Three ways Man City's midfield could line up without Bernardo Silva after injury update

Manchester City’s comfortable win on matchday one in the Champions League against Crvena Zvezda was tainted slightly when Pep Guardiola confirmed Bernardo Silva had picked up an injury.

John Stones, Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne are already sidelined, with the latter not expected back this year after picking up an injury in City’s opening game of the Premier League season against Burnley.

City will have to cope without the loss of Bernardo and that won't be easy given how versatile he has shown himself to be. The Portuguese can play either side of Erling Haaland and can even fill in at left-back, though it's perhaps in midfield where his absence will be felt most given Mateo Kovacic's fitness issues of late.

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With that in mind, MEN Sport has taken a look at three different midfield combinations Guardiola could go with in Bernardo's absence.

Rodri, Nunes and Foden

Nunes made his first start for the club against Crvena Zvezda, showing the Etihad faithful a glimpse of things to come.

Nunes played regular Premier League football for Wolves after his switch from Sporting Lisbon last year, and the game against Forest could be a good chance for him to make his first start.

Phil Foden has made no secret of his desire to play in a central role, though Guardiola has tended to play him on the wing. Bernardo's injury could give him his chance to shine in the middle.

Rodri, Phillips and Foden

Bernardo has occasionally operated in a deep midfield pivot alongside Rodri and Kalvin Phillips would be the obvious choice if Guardiola wanted to deploy the tactic again.

Phillips has played