Nigel Pearson has handed Sam Bell an FA Cup start against Manchester City over captain Andi Weimann following his goalscoring success in the competition so far.
The academy prospect was the hero of the third round when he scored a dramatic extra-time winner in the third-round replay at Swansea, his first for Bristol City. He then followed that up with two goals in the fourth round 3-0 victory over West Brom to book a tie with Pep Guardiola's Premier League champions.
Bell, 20, will line up on the left of the front three with Nahki Wells in the centre and Mark Sykes to his right with deadline day signings Anis Mehmeti and Harry Cornick both cup-tied. The City manager has kept a largely consistent starting XI in the competition so far.
All eyes will be on prospect Alex Scott who starts in the No10 position. The midfielder, nicknamed the 'Guernsey Grealish' as a reflection of his talent, is the subject of transfer interest from the Premier League with Newcastle the latest side linked.
The experienced Matty James, one of two City players alongside George Tanner to come through the Manchester United academy, will play alongside Joe Williams to provide protection in front of the defence. Like all players, they'll have a tall order this evening up against Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva in midfield.
Tanner keeps his place at right-back with Zak Vyner and Tomas Kalas in the heart of the defence. The latter is making just his second start of the season in the absence of Rob Atkinson who is sidelined for the rest of the season with an ACL injury.
Cam Pring starts over Jay Dasilva at left-back with Max O'Leary, fresh from signing a new three-and-a-half-year deal, playing in goal. Pearson has named a bench dominated by academy players in 16-year-old Elijah Morrison, Olly Thomas, Omar Taylor-Clarke and Marlee Francois.
Goalkeeper Nikita Haikin, Kane Wilson and Andy King make up the matchday squad against Guardiola's star-studded side. The visitors start with second-choice keeper Stefan Ortega in goal, a back four of Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and Rico Lewis.
Kalvin Phillips starts in midfield alongside De Bruyne and Silva while Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez start in attack with Erling Haaland on the bench.
Bristol City's XI: O'Leary, Tanner, Vyner, Kalas, Pring, James, Williams, Scott, Bell, Wells, Sykes
Man City's XI: Ortega Moreno, Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Phillips, De Bruyne (C), Bernardo, Mahrez, Foden, Alvarez
SIGN UP: For our daily Robins newsletter, bringing you the latest from Ashton Gate
READ NEXT
