Manchester City welcome Chelsea to the Etihad today with the visitors in turmoil after Enzo Maresca’s departure.
Manchester City are currently facing the challenges of the fixture pile-up as they prepare to host Chelsea in the Premier League. All eyes are on the visitors heading into the game after they parted ways with Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day.
However, who is in the dugout for the opponents should not be a distraction for City as they aim to close the gap on Arsenal in the Premier League. If they are to do that, the Blues will need to overcome injury concerns which are currently plaguing their squad.
So with this in mind, MEN Sport has taken a look at who is available, who is a doubt and who is out of the clash with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.
Nathan Ake
Injury: Knee
Ake returned to the starting line-up at the Stadium of Light as Pep Guardiola looked to freshen up his team. The Dutchman twisted his knee in the opening stages of the contest but managed to complete the game and should be available this weekend.
Potential return date: January 4 vs Chelsea
Nico Gonzalez
Injury: Unknown
Gonzalez was forced off at half time against Sunderland with an issue he was treated for on the pitch at the Stadium of Light. Guardiola said the Spaniard would be assessed ahead of Chelsea but after so many matches while Rodri has been out, it would not be a surprise to see him miss out.
Potential return date: January 7 vs Brighton
Rodri
Injury: N/A
Speaking of Rodri, Guardiola told the media after the draw with the Black Cats that he would talk with the medical staff before making a decision on whether the midfielder could play again so soon after the Sunderland game. Having only played 45 minutes at the Stadium of Light, the hope will be for the Ballon d’Or winner to be fit for Chelsea.
Potential return date: January 4 vs Chelsea
John Stones
Injury: Thigh
Stones remains a player on the edge of returning to the team having not featured since the thriller against Fulham at the beginning of December. With such a tight turnaround from Sunderland, next week might be the earliest the centre-back features again.
Potential return date: January 7 vs Brighton
Oscar Bobb
Injury: Hamstring
Inside 20 minutes against Brentford in the Carabao Cup, Bobb felt his hamstring and he has not featured in the squad since. The Norwegian’s return may not come in a City shirt with Borussia Dortmund interested in the forward.
Potential return date: January 2026
Savinho
Injury: Unknown
Like Gonzalez, Savinho was forced off against Sunderland and Guardiola admitted the injury ‘didn’t look good’. The Brazilian’s return date is not yet known.
Potential return date: Unknown
Jeremy Doku
Injury: N/A
Doku replaced the injured Savinho at the Stadium of Light and like Rodri, he will have been a topic of discussion when Guardiola met with the medical department ahead of the Chelsea clash. The hope will be the Belgian is fit to go again.
Potential return date: January 4 vs Chelsea
Mateo Kovacic
Injury: Ankle
The Croatian remains the long-term absentee in the City squad and is still at least a month away from being fit again to play for the Blues.
Potential return date: February 2026
