Enzo Maresca has given the latest Man City injury news ahead of the clash against Man United at Old Trafford

Manchester City have been handed an injury boost for this weekend’s Manchester derby, with Nico O’Reilly expected to be fit for the clash with Manchester United. The 21-year-old has been absent for the last two games with a back injury.

City make the short journey to Old Trafford on Sunday to take on United. They will be looking to maintain their 100 per cent record in the Premier League under Enzo Maresca.

The results see City sit top of the early Premier League table, above expected title rivals Arsenal on goals scored. The two teams are the only two to have won all of their three games so far.

City were also in Champions League action this week. They kicked off their European campaign in the perfect way with a brace from Erling Haaland giving them a 2-0 away win.

Attentions now turn back to the Premier League and the Manchester derby with City looking to secure early bragging rights.

Ahead of the game, Maresca has given the latest injury update on his squad. In good news, it seems that the treatment room is becoming increasingly empty.

Nico O’Reilly

Injury: Back.

O’Reilly was forced to pull out of the line-up shortly before last weekend’s win over Coventry City due to a back problem. He sat out this week’s Champions League win over Porto, but will be available for the Manchester derby.

What Maresca has said: “Nico is 100% available.”

Expected return date: Vs Manchester United (A) – Sunday 13 September.

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Jeremy Doku

Injury: Calf.

Doku suffered a caf injury during the Community Shield clash against Arsenal last month. He is yet to make an appearance in the Premier League or Champions League this season.

What Maresca has said: “Jeremy needs some more days.”

Possible return date: Vs Sunderland (H) – Sunday 20 September.

Bruno Fernandes played the full game for Man Utd against Sabah but was seen limping away from Old Trafford after the 4-0 rout.

Michael Carrick insists he will give Bruno Fernandes a rest this season, despite the Manchester United captain completing his fourth successive 90 minutes of the campaign in the 4-0 win against Sabah.

Fernandes got on the scoresheet in United’s Champions League opener, helping his side to a comfortable 3-0 lead at the break, and with one eye on Sunday’s Manchester derby, Carrick began to ring the changes at that point.

Despite making all five changes, he opted to rest Youri Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo, Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu, leaving the 32-year-old Fernandes on the pitch as his minutes continue to rack up.

The wisdom of that idea could come into question after Fernandes was seen limping away from Old Trafford after the game. He took a few heavy blows during the second half, including one bang to the hip and then another kick late on that left him in a heap.

With just three days between the win against Sabah and the first derby of the season, Fernandes has little recovery time before trying to line up against Enzo Maresca’s side.

Carrick spoke to the media before his captain was seen limping, but did explain why he didn’t take him off despite the commanding position his team were in.

“We only had five subs! We had to make certain decisions on what that looked like,” said Carrick. “But, of course, he’s like anybody else. He has played an awful lot, but I think we’re developing the group and the squad to be able to accommodate that in different ways.

“Tonight was just one of those things, there were decisions to be made and he ended up staying on.”

Fernandes has played every minute of Carrick’s 21 games in charge since January and he has missed just 10 of the 244 Premier League fixtures United have had since he joined the club from Sporting in January 2020.

Luke Shaw did miss the win against Sabah after sitting out training on Wednesday and he will be checked over the next few days before a decision is made on his fitness ahead of the derby.

“We’ll have to see,” said Carrick. “We just kind of looked after him a little bit going into tonight. He wasn’t quite ready for it 100%, so we didn’t risk it. We’ll see how he is over the next couple of days or so.”

Champion jockey James McDonald has been rewarded for his persistent belief in Columbus, sticking with the horse through a couple of recent defeats to secure a midweek win at Randwick’s Kensington track.

The son of Dundeel, a horse McDonald rode to six Group 1 wins, was initially considered a potential classic contender in the autumn before a setback ruled him out of the carnival. Since returning with a first-up victory at Newcastle in July, the four-year-old has not quite lived up to expectations, having been beaten in two subsequent runs as the favourite.

While his bounce back in Wednesday’s TAB Handicap (1800m) was only in midweek grade, McDonald stated it was a step in the right direction for the entire, who is prepared by Hall of Fame trainer Les Bridge.

“I still reckon he can go better than that,” McDonald said. “He’s just doing enough at the moment. I’m sure Les will coach the best out of him. He’s in the right hands and he’ll go through the grades. He just needs a bit of confidence. He’s a lovely type, as you can see, but there is more to give.”

The Chris Waller stable also presented a winner they believe has more to offer in three-year-old colt Wonka ($4.20). The Snitzel colt led home a first-four for the yard in the Inglis Xtra Bonus Handicap (1550m), defeating Unhinged ($3.60 equal fav) by a length, with Cotoletta Cut ($41) another short half-head away third, and True Tone making ground from last for fourth.

Waller’s assistant trainer, Charlie Duckworth, shared that Wonka was going to be gelded if he did not perform, and while he has earned a reprieve, he still needs to improve his race craft.

Duckworth was also pleased they made the correct decision to step him up in distance, a move that had been debated after his minor placings at Warwick Farm the previous week.

“Jason (Collett) rode him seven days ago and he can be quite aggressive. He wasn’t convinced whether we actually brought him back in distance,” Duckworth said. “But we thought stretching him out in distance might actually settle him down. He runs a little bit on fear, and if the slower tempo could allow him to see the distance out we thought that would be the path to go. It worked out well today, and he was strong through the line.”

Wonka holds nominations for the Golden Rose (1400m) and the Caulfield Guineas (1600m), but Duckworth indicated the horse still has “some kinks in his armour” that need to be ironed out before he rises in grade.

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O.J. Simpson’s former longtime partner Christie Prody has been arrested in North Dakota on multiple narcotics charges, according to reports.

Prody was taken into custody by the West Fargo Police Department and booked on three separate counts, per records from the Cass County Jail. The counts include possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance (a depressant), and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Her booking mugshot have also been released by authorities, as law enforcement continue reviewing the circumstances surrounding the case.

Prody dated O.J. Simpson for 12 to 13 years. Their relationship started shortly after his 1995 acquittal in the double murder trial of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.

Prody’s latest arrest adds to a long history of legal troubles and struggle with substance use. Police records from Miami-Dade County reveal she was named in at least 18 police incidents during her time with the late NFL Hall of Famer.

These include multiple domestic disputes and a misdemeanor marijuana charge. She was also once charged to a Clay County District Court, where she pled guilty to burglary and drug possession.

This was after allegations of stealing prescription pain medication from an elderly couple while working as an in-home nursing assistant. She was subsequently sentenced to 45 days in jail and 10 years probation.

Defense attorney Ken Kludt highlighted her struggle with methamphetamine and oxycodone addiction at the time.

Christie Prody’s relationship with O.J. Simpson

Prody spoke about her relationship with the controversial former football player in a 2009 interview on ABC’s Good Morning America. She detailed physical and emotional abuse she endured during the relationship in the interview.

She also stated that she eventually accepted that Simpson was responsible for the 1994 homicide of Brown and Goldman. While the former Buffalo Bills running back escaped criminal liability in the case, he was found liable a civil suit.

However, he would eventually serve prison time in Nevada for a 2007 armed robbery conviction. He passed away in 2024 after battling with cancer.

O.J. Simpson’s brilliant football career has often been overshadowed by his widely televised 1995 murder trial. However, prior to that, he spent 11 seasons in the NFL playing for the Bills and later the San Francisco 49ers.

Regarded as one of the greatest running backs to play the game, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.