Pep Guardiola has made wholesale changes for Manchester City’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against Plymouth
Man City returned to winning ways on Wednesday night by beating Tottenham as the fit-again Erling Haaland scored the only goal of the game.
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW MAN CITY VS PLYMOUTH LIVE!
With no fresh injuries reported after the game, Guardiola has opted to rest every single player that started in north London.
This means Ruben Dias and Haaland are partially rested following their injury issues.
Stefan Ortega gets the nod in between the posts as Ederson makes way. Nico O’Reilly has started both FA Cup ties for City so far this season and could is handed another opportunity at left-back.
Guardiola has an abundance of riches in midfield and has recalled Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan, James McAtee and Bernardo Silva.
With no natural centre-forward in the lineup, it would appear that Phil Foden will operate as a false nine.
As expected, John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Rodri play no part, whilst the tie comes too soon for Oscar Bobb, who has returned to training suffering a setback in his bid to return from a broken leg.
This week has seen Man City finally unveil Argentinian wonderkid Claudio Echeverri.
The 19-year-old signed for City last January but was loaned back to River Plate to help continue his development. And after starring for his nation at the recent Under-20 South American Championship, he has officially joined up with the squad.
Though, Guardiola has held off on handing Echeverri a debut.
Asked at his pre-match press conference if Echeverri will feature this season, Guardiola said: "I don't know. He arrived with two months left in the season and every game is a final for us.
“Now are are fourth but if we don't get results we are sixth or seventh. We lose one or two games right now we go down to eighth. When things are so tight every game is a final.”
Confirmed team news
Man City XI: Ortega Moreno, Lewis, Reis, Ake, O’Reilly, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), McAtee, Bernardo, Grealish, Foden
Subs: Ederson, Dias, Marmoush, Haaland, Doku, Nico, Gvardiol, Savinho, Nunes
