Manchester City are waiting to see how many players will be missing with injury when they take on Crystal Palace.
With Aymeric Laporte already sidelined, Kyle Walker partnered Ruben Dias in central defence for the charity game with Barcelona in midweek, with Nathan Ake not fit enough for the squad after being forced off with a groin injury at Newcastle. John Stones only played the second half in a decision that surely means he starts on Saturday - probably alongside Dias - but depth is a concern for Pep Guardiola.
Luke Mbete came on for Dias at Camp Nou in the 68th minute but the young centre-back suffered a sickening head injury towards the end of the game that required 10 minutes of treatment on the pitch and a night of observation at a Barcelona hospital. Mbete is thought to be fine but only flew back to Manchester on Friday and is unlikely to be available as an option to provide cover on Saturday.
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Guardiola will be asked at his Friday press conference about the state of Ake and Jack Grealish, who also travelled with the team to Spain despite missing the Newcastle game with injury. Kalvin Phillips is another doubt after taking a blow to his shoulder in the game at Barcelona that forced him off the pitch.
Josh Wilson-Esbrand played the second half of the friendly and he, Rico Lewis and Sergio Gomez will be able to provide cover at full-back if Walker is needed again in the middle of defence.
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