Mangala, Bony and Iheanacho return to squad
Manchester City vs Newcastle United
Date: 15.00pm, Saturday 3rd October 2015
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Kevin Friend Assistants: P Kirkup, C Hatzidakis Fourth Official: K Wright
Odds: Manchester City 1/4, Draw 6/1, Newcastle 12/1
Tickets: Available via www.mcfc.co.uk
TV: Match of the Day (highlights)
Manchester City
Manager: Manuel Pellegrini
Squad (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Demichelis, Kolarov, Mangala, Otamendi, Sagna, Zabaleta, De Bruyne, Evans, Fernandinho, Fernando, Navas, Roberts, Sterling, Aguero, Bony, Iheanacho
Injured: Clichy, Delph, Kompany, Nasri, Toure
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Form guide: LLWWWW
Newcastle United
Manager: Steve McLaren
Squad (from): Darlow, Elliot, Krul, Coloccini, Good, Janmaat, Lascelles, Mbabu, Mbemba, Williamson, Aarons, Anita, Bigirimana, Colback, De Jong, Gouffran, Marveaux, Obertan, Sissoko, Thauvin, Tiote, Wijnaldum, Cisse, Mitrovic, Perez, Toney.
Injured: Taylor, Haidara, Dummett, Riviere
Doubtful: Colback, Aarons
Suspended: None
Form guide: DLLLDL
Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure have been ruled out of the game, and join Gael Clichy, Fabian Delph and Samir Nasri on the sidelines. Eliaquim Mangala, Wifried Bony and Kelechi Iheanacho are, however, available again following injuries.
City were soundly beaten 4-1 at White Hart Lane in their last league outing, and manager Manuel Pellegrini is expecting another tough test tomorrow.
“We always expect to win at home but away also,” he said.
“We want to win everywhere. We have to play in the same way, in the same style.
“Tomorrow we have a tough game against Newcastle. They played very well against Chelsea and here in Manchester against United.
“We are not thinking of the top of the table at this moment – just to have a strong performance. It’s important to be at the top in May.
“We know we are going to have eight or nine players defending so we have to create the space.”
City's last home game against Newcastle ended in a comprehensive 5-0 victory, thanks to goals from Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri, Edin Dzeko and David Silva (2). Overall City have won 64 of the 173 games played against Newcastle, with 38 draws and 71 defeats.
Prediction: City 2 Newcastle 0