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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Jonathan Gorrie

Man City XI vs Leeds: De Bruyne starts, starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Premier League

Kevin De Bruyne has returned to the startign line-up after missing two matches with “niggles” as Pep Guardiola opts to play the Manchester City midfielder just days before next week’s Real Madrid clash.

City can pull four points clear of Arsenal at the top of the table with victory over Leeds today.

“He trained yesterday and (was) good,” said Guardiola on Friday. “He will train today, and we will decide. He has been missing one week or 10 days and at this time of the season, that is not a problem. It’s like Nathan [Ake] - if he’s fit he can play.”

Despite City moving a point above Arsenal with a game in hand, Guardiola insists they are not in a position to make wholesale changes and rest players for their Champions League semi-final against Real.

“I'm thinking in how there's a lot of games with a lot of tension,” he said. “I see the team really tired after demanding games against Fulham and West Ham.

“We have to see how the players recover again after just three days in the previous games. “My decision will be focused on how physical and mental they play.

“Everyone has to be ready, contribution of everyone will be important. Lots or few minutes.”

Ederson returns in goal after Stefan Ortega started against West Ham on Wednesday.

Asked whether he would consider resting Rodri, Guardiola said: “I have to see at the training session. We will see.”

Rodri is rested along with Jack Grealish and John Stones.

Confirmed team news

Man City: Ederson, Akanji, Laporte, Ake, Lewis, Gundogan, Mahrez, Alvarez, De Bruyne, Foden, Haaland

Subs: Walker, Dias, Phillips, Stones, Grealish, Rodri, Ortega, Bernardo Silva, Gomez.

Leeds: Robles, Kristensen, Wober, Firpo, Ayling, Forshaw, Roca, Harrison, McKennie, Gnonto, Bamford

Subs: Meslier, Koch, Aaronson, Summerville, Rodrigo, Struijk, Rutter, Greenwood, Gray.

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