Team News: Manchester City's Erling Braut Haaland begins on the bench for Fulham clash

Manchester City striker Erling Braut Haaland is named on the substitutes' bench for this afternoon's Premier League clash against Fulham at the Etihad Stadium.

The 22-year-old – who has scored 22 goals in just 16 games across all competitions this season – has missed the last two matches against Leicester City and Sevilla due to "ligament damage" in his foot.

Pep Guardiola revealed in his pre-match press-conference that Haaland was feeling 'much better', but City's No.9 will begin as a substitute against the Cottagers, with Julian Alvarez leading the line again in attack.

Guardiola has made a total of eight changes to the side that beat Sevilla on Wednesday, with Stefan Ortega, Rico Lewis, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Sergio Gomez, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez all dropping to the bench.

First-choice goalkeeper Ederson returns between the sticks and the Brazilian will be protected by a back four of John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and Joao Cancelo.

Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri are recalled to start alongside captain Ilkay Gundogan in centre-midfield, while Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish will join Alvarez in the front three.

As for Fulham, Aleksandar Mitrovic is not in the matchday squad, with Carlos Vinicius handed a start alongside Willian and Harry Wilson in attack.

Manchester City starting lineup: Ederson; Stones, Akanji, Ake, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Bernardo, Alvarez, Grealish

Subs: Ortega, Dias, Laporte, Gomez, Lewis, Palmer, Mahrez, Foden, Haaland

Fulham starting lineup: Leno; Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson; Reed, Palhinha; Wilson, Pereira, Willian; Vinicius

Subs: Rodak, Kurzawa, Tosin, Duffy, Mbabu, Cairney, James, Onomah, Harris