Manchester City vs Stoke City preview: Aguero could return despite broken rib

By Ric Turner, Fri 13 October 2017 16:10


Manchester City vs Stoke City preview: Aguero could return despite broken ribArgentine striker resumed first team training this week after road traffic accident

Manchester City vs Stoke City

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 3.00pm, Saturday 14th October 2017

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Referee: Craig Pawson Assistants: I Hussin, A Garratt Fourth Official: A Madley

Odds: City 6/1, Draw 8/1, Stoke 16/1

Tickets: Available via tickets.mancity.com

TV: Match of the Day

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Bravo, Ederson, Muric, Danilo, Mangala, Otamendi, Stones, Walker, De Bruyne, Delph, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Sane, B Silva, D Silva, Sterling, Toure, Aguero, Jesus

Injured: Mendy, Kompany

Doubtful: Aguero

Suspended: None

Form guide: WWWWWW

Stoke City

Manager: Mark Hughes

Squad (from): Butland, Haugaard, Grant, Pieters, Johnson, Cameron, Tymon, Zouma, Wimmer, Allen, Fletcher, Affelay, Adam, Shaqiri, Sobhi, Berahino, Diouf, Choupo-Moting, Crouch, Ngoy, Jese

Injured: Ireland, Martins Indi, Shawcross

Doubtful: Allen

Suspended: None

Form guide: DDLLLW

Sergio Aguero could come into contention for the clash with Stoke, despite breaking a rib in a road traffic accident just before the international break. The Argentine striker resumed training with the first team this week, much to manager Pep Guardiola's relief. Vincent Kompany, however, remains sidelined with a calf injury although Guardiola described his condition as "much, much better". The visitors have a decent record in recent years at The Etihad, having won one and drawn one of their last three encounters and Guardiola is anticipating another difficult challenge:

“It will be a tough game,” he added. “They are so defensively well-organised.

“They have quality up front with Xherdan Shaqiri, Jese and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.

“They can do whatever they want – long ball with Peter Crouch can be unstoppable. We have to defend in our box.

“They have Darren Fletcher and Joe Allen too and a good goalkeeper. They have a well-organised back five and they are so defensive.”

City's last home game against the Potters ended in a 0-0 draw, although the Blues won 4-1 earlier in the season at the Bet365 Stadium. Overall City have won 49 of the 111 games played against Stoke, with 25 draws and 37 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph, Fernandinho, D Silva, De Bruyne, Sane, Sterling, Jesus

Score prediction: City 2 Stoke 1