Man City injury list: Players out, potential return dates, predicted lineup for next game vs. Nottingham Forest

Manchester City’s medical room is filling up at the worst possible moment, with Pep Guardiola’s squad stretched on four fronts after Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest left the champions seven points adrift of Arsenal in the Premier League. City now switch attention to Sunday’s FA Cup fifth-round trip to Newcastle United before a Champions League last-16 first-leg meeting with Real Madrid and the Carabao Cup final against the Gunners later this month.

Left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, fresh from an impressive run of form since returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty, was withdrawn midway through the second half against Forest with what Guardiola described as “some niggles” in his leg. The Algeria international will be assessed less than 72 hours before kick-off at St James’ Park.

Midfielder Matty O’Reilly, who has deputised admirably in an unfamiliar left-back role, missed the Forest game after limping off at Leeds last weekend. Guardiola confirmed the 20-year-old has returned to training but remains a doubt and will undergo a late fitness test.

Versatile backup Rico Lewis is definitely out after developing a swollen ankle, while long-term absentee Joško Gvardiol faces the prospect of missing the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign. The Croatian defender fractured his tibia in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea on New Year’s Day and has already undergone surgery, with the club braced for an extended rehabilitation.

Midfielder Mateo Kovačić is also unavailable. The 31-year-old required Achilles surgery last summer and, despite returning to first-team training in early March after a calcification setback, is still being managed cautiously as City target his involvement in the season’s decisive weeks.

With Ait-Nouri and O’Reilly uncertain, Guardiola could again be forced into a makeshift back line. If neither proves his fitness, Guardiola may ask centre-half Nathan Aké to shift wide or hand a maiden start to academy graduate Josh Wilson-Esbrand, while Manuel Akanji and Rúben Dias remain the first-choice pairing in the middle. Rodri and Bernardo Silva are expected to anchor midfield, freeing Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Jérémy Doku to support lone striker Erling Haaland in a 4-3-3 shape.

City have already beaten Newcastle twice this term—home and away in the Carabao Cup semi-final—yet Eddie Howe’s side edged a 2-1 league win at St James’ Park in August, underlining the size of the task awaiting the injury-hit visitors on Sunday.