Fernandinho and Foden return — Man City predicted line up vs Wolves

Manchester City only have three first-team defenders available for Wednesday's match with Wolves as the champions look to take one more step toward retaining their Premier League crown.

Fernandinho will almost certainly fill in at centre-half again. He was pushed into the backline during Sunday’s thrashing of Newcastle when Ruben Dias was forced off at half-time with a hamstring issue.

Nathan Ake was on the bench but was not 100 per cent fit himself due to a persistent ankle injury. With Kyle Walker and John Stones also out for the season alongside Dias, it leaves City with only Joao Cancelo, Aymeric Laporte and Olek Zinchenko available for Wolves.

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Because of this, Pep Guardiola may opt for a 4-2-3-1 formation to provide extra cover for the defensive line. It might mean Ilkay Gundogan retains his place alongside Rodri.

Gabriel Jesus could be rested with one eye on West Ham at the weekend with Raheem Sterling, who netted a brace against Newcastle, pushed up front. Kevin De Bruyne will play just behind the England international and will likely be flanked by Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez.

A major luxury for Guardiola is the ability for his frontmen to swap and change positions throughout the game, with each capable of moving into the striker role if needed. What the defensive injuries do mean, however, is that the bench is due to be stacked with youth with the likes of Cole Palmer and Luke Mbete sure to be named once again.

Predicted Manchester City XI vs Wolves: Ederson; Cancelo, Fernandinho, Laporte, Zinchenko; Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, De Bruyne, Foden; Sterling

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