Pep Guardiola will be without key midfielder Rodri when Manchester City visit Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Ballon d’Or-winning Spaniard enjoyed a consistent run of games in the early stages of this season after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, but found himself sidelined again before the October international break with a hamstring issue.
Both Rodri and Guardiola played down the injury’s severity when speaking to the media, but the player did not appear in the matchday squad for either of City’s recent wins over Everton and Villarreal.
Nico Gonzalez has deputised in both of those outings, but does not seem likely to start against Villa after picking up a knock in the Champions League in midweek. Mateo Kovacic is a contender to fill the central midfield role.
“We will see today and tomorrow how he feels,” Guardiola said of Nico on Friday.
Guardiola should be able to name a first-choice defence against Villa, and summer signing Tijjani Reijnders should come back into an attacking midfield slot after being rested in Spain.
Rayan Cherki has appeared off the bench in each of City’s last two matches having recovered from an injury of his own, and could be in with a chance of making the starting lineup, though he must unseat Savinho to do so.
Phil Foden continues to impress as a No10, and should also return to the XI after playing no part against Villarreal. The free-scoring Erling Haaland should assume his usual place at centre-forward.
The game will come too soon for Abdukodir Khusanov, though Rayan Ait-Nouri could be involved after returning to training last week.
“Close to come back but not ready,” Guardiola said of Khusanov. “The injury is in a dangerous position.”
Predicted Man City XI (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic; Savinho, Reijnders, Foden, Doku; Haaland
Doubt: Nico
Injured: Rodri, Khusanov
Time and date: 2pm GMT on Sunday October 26, 2025
Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
How to watch: Sky Sports
