Winger returned to training this week following thigh problem
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
Competition: F.A. Premier League
Date: 3.00pm, Saturday 23rd September 2023
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Anthony Taylor Assistants: G Beswick, A Nunn Fourth Official: D Whitestone VAR: M Salisbury
Odds: City 1/8, Draw 7/1, Forest 18/1
Tickets: Sold out
TV: Match of the Day
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Ederson, Ortega, Carson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol. Akanji, Lewis, Phillips, Grealish, Rodri, Gomez, Nunes, Foden, Bobb, Haaland, Doku, Alvarez
Injured: Stones, De Bruyne, Kovacic
Doubtful: Grealish
Suspended: None
Form guide: WWWWW
Nottingham Forest
Manager: Steve Cooper
Squad (from): Turner, Hennessey, Vlachodimos, Tavares, Worrall, Williams, Toffolo, Felipe, Niakhate, Aurier, McKenna, Montiel, Boly, Mangala, Sangare, Kouyate, Gibbs-White, Santos, Dominguez, Yates, Awoniyi, Wood, Hudson-Odoi, Elanga, Origi
Injured: Danilo
Doubtful: Aurier, Boly, Hennessey
Suspended: None
Form guide: DWLLW
Jack Grealish could be involved against Forest after returning to training this week, following an injury sustained against Sheffield United. Mateo Koavic, John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne are all still absent for the Blues, and are joined on the sidelines by Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese midfielder was withdrawn in the first half against Red STar Belgarde on Tuesday night.
"Jack is coming back, training well and maybe for some minutes will be ready," Guardiola said at Friday's press conference.
"Kova[cic] is almost ready, the last part of the recovery but now we lost Bernardo for a few days and John [Stones], Kevin [De Bruyne] are still out.
"[Bernardo is] a little injury, not much. I don't know, a week, two weeks."
Forest visit The Etihad in good form, currently sitting in eighth place in the Premier League, and Guardiola was complinetary about Steve Cooper's side.
"They were able to do an incredible game at Stamford Bridge and fought a lot v Arsenal and Manchester United, [winning] 0-2 after a few minutes.
"Last season we couldn't win there but they did a good game, missed chances. We can’t deny in the last year at home we feel good. Tomorrow we have to prove it again."
City won their last home game against Forest 6-0, with a hat-trick from Erling Haaland, and goal from Joao Cancelo and Julian Alvarez (2). Overall City have won 41 of the 102 games played against the Reds, with 28 draws and 33 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodri, Nunes, Foden, Alvarez, Doku, Haaland
Score prediction: City 3 Forest 1