How Man City should line up vs Manchester United in the derby

Pep Guardiola is set to have an almost-full strength Manchester City squad available to him to face Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Eric Garcia is the only definite absentee after hobbling off in the first half of City's Champions League victory over Marseille in midweek.

Rodri missed that match as a precaution but is likely to return, and Ilkay Gundogan - who also came off on Wednesday with an injury - has since trained and is likely to be available.

Sergio Aguero, who is continuing on the road back to full fitness, won't start, Guardiola says, and is set to be on the bench.

Read how our writers think City should line up and use the interactive widget to pick your own starting XI:

Simon Bajkowski

The hardest decision for Guardiola is probably at left-back. Benjamin Mendy offers unique skills down the left but Joao Cancelo has been one of the standout players since June; both are in promising form but have a defensive wobble in them.

I'd go with Mendy simply because he is a more natural wide player down the left and if Bernardo starts on that flank he is more likely to roam inside. Nobody has nailed down a place in the attack but I think Bernardo and Riyad Mahrez are the two most in form, and Gabriel Jesus offers some stability in the centre-forward role even if he has not scored for a month.

As long as he is fit, Ilkay Gundogan should start alongside Rodri. They aren't a particularly popular duo but have been together for some of City's biggest wins.

At the back, John Stones deserves the nod ahead of Aymeric Laporte if the players are being based on recent performances - as Guardiola has stressed several times they are.

Pick your own starting XI:

Tyrone Marshall

City's win over Marseille in midweek probably didn't give Guardiola too many selection headaches, although two of his bigger decisions come in defence. Walker and Dias are certainties, but after an impressive display in midweek - this time as a substitute - Stones deserves to play ahead of Laporte. At left-back Mendy has done well of late, but Cancelo has been the more reliable operator this season.

The fact Gundogan has trained well since being taken off with a sore ankle in midweek is a major boost to Guardiola, who has come to rely on the German in these games. The other two members of City's midfield are two of the most important members of the side this season, in Rodri and De Bruyne.

Guardiola has already ruled Aguero out from the start, so Jesus will get a chance to find the back of the net having gone five games without a goal. Sterling and Mahrez get the nod out wide, but Torres was very close to displacing one of them.