Pablo Fornals is not a part of the matchday squad for West Ham's Premier League game at the Etihad and football.london understands it is not injury related.
The Spanish midfielder has struggled for game time since David Moyes took over in east London at the back end of last year to replace Manuel Pellegrini as manager.
Fornals has started just two of the six previous Premier League games since the Scot took over, one of those was his very first one back against Bournemouth.
The summer signing from Villarreal was one of the Hammers better performers during the latter days of Pellegrini's reign and his exclusion from starting lineups has become a big talking point among West Ham's fans.
Jarrod Bowen and Felipe Anderson have both been named on the bench this evening for the visitors to east Manchester, meaning Fornals is the seemingly the fall guy and doesn't get a spot on the bench.
Manuel Lanzini, Fabian Balbuena, Darren Randolph, Sebastien Haller and Pablo Zabaleta comprise the rest of the subs.
Moyes has made just one change to his starting lineup from the team that drew with Brighton last time out as Arthur Masuaku comes in for Sebastien Haller, meaning a change in formation.
The Scot looks to be deploying a back five with Aaron Cresswell as the third centre half and Masuaku at left wing back.
West Ham: Fabianski; Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Masuaku; Rice, Noble, Soucek, Snodgrass; Antonio.
