Pep Guardiola will remain without Jeremy Doku, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake for Manchester City’s Premier League showdown against Arsenal.
City head to the Emirates trailing the Gunners by six points having rescued their Champions League campaign midweek with victory over Club Brugge.
The defending Premier League champions were paired with Real Madrid in Friday’s play-off draw but their immediate focus is on Sunday where the two sides will be reunited for the first time since September’s fiery 2-2 draw at the Etihad.
City were without the injured trio of Doku, Dias and Ake midweek with Rodri still a long-term absentee. Oscar Bobb meanwhile is back training with the team after his layoff.
While there were no new injury problems to report at his pre-match press conference on Friday, that injured trio will not be making the trip down south.
Asked if any injured players will return this weekend, the City boss said: ‘No, we continue the same’.
Doku has missed City’s last three games after picking up a knock in the victory over Ipswich.
While City have not disclosed the exact nature of the injury, Guardiola fears it may sideline the Belgian ‘for a while’.
Dias meanwhile was forced off during City’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain with an adductor issue. Guardiola said last week: ‘I don’t know yet [how long he will be out for].
‘He was stable, always was able to play a lot of games, but this season started to, yeah… It is what it is.’
Ake meanwhile has been limited to just seven league starts this term with his return date also unclear.
Bobb meanwhile has missed the last five months of action after suffering a leg fracture in August. While he is back in training, City’s FA Cup fourth round clash against Leyton Orient could be a more likely return date for the forward.
Arsenal meanwhile remain without Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Ben White with goalkeeper David Raya also a minor doubt.