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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Joe Bray

Cancelo and Sterling back - Man City predicted team to face Newcastle in Premier League

Pep Guardiola says he has just one player missing as he prepares to take his Manchester City side to Newcastle this weekend.

Ferran Torres remains a long-term absentee and is the only player unavailable for City at St James' Park, with Joao Cancelo back from suspension and Bernardo Silva shrugging off the 'niggles' that saw him replaced against Leeds as a precaution.

Kyle Walker missed the Leeds with for fitness reasons, and Guardiola's update suggests he is back available - although he didn't train with his teammates on Friday according to footage published by the club.

With a strong squad available, Guardiola is likely to field a full strength squad to face Newcastle, especially knowing City have a week between this fixture and their next game against Leicester on Boxing Day.

Cancelo should come straight back into the side, and with Walker not seen on Friday, it might be best to keep Aleks Zinchenko on the left side of defence. John Stones was good against Leeds and grabbed a goal, but Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte are the best centre-back pairing this season so should continue at the back.

Rodri is an unquestionable choice in defensive midfield, as is Bernardo assuming he's fit again.

Kevin De Bruyne has played twice in the last week and could benefit from a rest, but his performance against Leeds was a sign he's getting back to his best, and a chance to continue that momentum could be beneficial. If he tires, Ilkay Gundogan can come on to replace him.

In attack, Jack Grealish is in a similar situation to De Bruyne in that he scored a long-awaited goal on Tuesday and will want the opportunity to build on that against the league's worst defence.

Phil Foden should start if fit, so teh last place is between Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Riyad Mahrez. Sterling and Jesus both stayed on the bench against Leeds, so it should be a choice between those two, and maybe Sterling just gets the nod as he can play across the front three along with his two England teammates.

Predicted Man City XI vs Newcastle: Ederson; Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko; Rodri, Bernardo, De Bruyne; Grealish, Foden, Sterling.

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