Manchester City need to get creative in defence for tonight’s Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg tie against Newcastle.
Pep Guardiola is juggling an injury crisis at the heart of his back four, with Ruben Dias, John Stones and Josko Gvardiol all out injured.
Dias has suffered a hamstring problem that will keep him out for “four to six weeks” according to his manager, while Stones remains sidelined with a thigh issue and a date for his return is still unclear.
Gvardiol has come off the worst of the three, hobbling off against Chelsea with what was later revealed to be a broken leg.
In the crushing 10-1 win over Exeter in the FA Cup at the weekend, Guardiola started young defender Max Alleyne at centre-back alongside Abdukodir Khusanov, while versatile Dutchman Nathan Ake, who can also play in the middle, was fielded at left-back.
Alleyne’s loan spell at Watford was cut short to help out with City’s lack of numbers in central defence, and he marked his start with the opening goal at the Etihad Stadium.
The trio start again on Tyneside, with Matheus Nunes replacing Rico Lewis on the right side of defence. Gianluigi Donnarumma is on the bench again with James Trafford given another start in goal.
Rodri started against Exeter but is a substitute tonight, with Bernardo Silva - who captains the side - coming back in along with usual left-back Nico O’Reilly, who looks to be playing in a deeper midfield role.
Antoine Semenyo keeps his place in attack after scoring on debut against Exeter following the completion of a £64million transfer from Bournemouth, with a rule change for this season’s Carabao Cup meaning that players can represent two clubs in the same competition.
Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku return to flank Erling Haaland, with Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Ryan McAidoo all dropping to the bench, where Rayan Ait-Nouri returns following Algeria’s quarter-final exit from the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Mateo Kovacic, Oscar Bobb and Savinho all remain out.
Man City XI: Trafford, Nunes, Khusanov, Alleyne, Ake, Bernardo, O’Reilly, Semenyo, Foden, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Donnarumma, Reijnders, Cherki, Rodri, Ait-Nouri, McAidoo, Gray, Mukasa, Lewis
Injured: Dias, Stones, Gvardiol, Bobb, Savinho, Kovacic
Unavailable: Marmoush (AFCON)
Time and date: 8pm GMT on Tuesday January 13, 2026
Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle
How to watch: Sky Sports
