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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Daniel Murphy

Man City starting XI vs Everton predicted: David Silva and Gabriel Jesus to return

The games are coming at speed for Man City and they will be in action once again on New Year's Day when they take on Everton at the Etihad.

It's been a mixed festive period for City as a costly defeat to Wolves, after holding a 2-0 lead, has all but ended the Premier League title race with Liverpool before 2020 even begins.

It was followed up two days later with a good victory against a tough Sheffield United and the Blues have finally been given a boost on the injury front.

While the Christmas season is renowned for striking players down with injuries due to the amount of games, Pep Guardiola now actually has the most players available to him in months.

Only long-term absentees Leroy Sane and Aymeric Laporte remain on the sidelines, but both are closing in on a return to action themselves.

With the third of five games in 11 days coming against Everton, Guardiola may rotate his side to keep his players fresh. One change will be the return of Ederson in goal after the Brazilian served his one game suspension following his red card against Wolves, with Claudio Bravo making way.

Another change may come at the back, with Joao Cancelo potentially coming in for Kyle Walker who has played the last three games in a row.

Fernandinho may likely keep his place but Nicolas Otamendi may return for youngster Eric Garcia to help combat the aerial threat of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

John Stones is available but putting him straight back into the fray so soon after recovering from yet more injury problems seems foolish.

Aleks Zinchenko could also keep his place in the side after coming in for Benjamin Mendy last time out.

In midfield there could be changes as well, with Ilkay Gundogan potentially coming in to the holding role in order to give Rodri a breather and captain David Silva may also return.

The Spaniard has been out of action since the Manchester derby and his guile and creativity on the ball have been missed in midfield. His injury record hasn't been too bad this season so he may be placed straight back into the side in order to freshen up the midfield.

Kevin De Bruyne won't be going anywhere, however, as the brilliant Belgian has made himself undroppable with his scintillating performances in recent weeks.

Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva, the latter being pushed into attack from midfield, may also keep their spots in the side but Gabriel Jesus might come back in for Sergio Aguero in order to not push him too hard so soon after his return from injury.

Predicted Man City XI vs Everton: Ederson, Cancelo, Fernandinho, Otamendi, Zinchenko; De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva; Bernardo, Jesus, Sterling.

Predicted substitutes: Bravo, Walker, Stones, Rodri, Foden, Mahrez, Aguero.

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