Max Alleyne forced off with injury against Salford City in FA Cup fourth round

Manchester City’s FA Cup fourth-round meeting with League Two visitors Salford City was soured after promising centre-back Max Alleyne was forced off inside the opening quarter-hour, casting an early shadow over Pep Guardiola’s rejigged line-up at the Etihad Stadium.

The 20-year-old academy graduate, restored to the starting XI alongside club captain John Stones, lasted just 21 minutes before a heavy collision with Salford midfielder Josh Austerfield left him unable to continue. Ryan McAidoo took his place as Guardiola was obliged to reshuffle a backline already deprived of regular starters through rotation.

Alleyne’s setback arrives at a delicate juncture of the campaign. Recalled in January from a season-long loan at Watford, the Bristol-born defender had been catapulted into high-stakes fixtures against Manchester United and Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt, impressing staff with his composure amid an injury crisis that had already sidelined Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol. The club’s swift £20 million capture of Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi underlined the urgency for reinforcements, yet Alleyne’s recent cameos had encouraged Guardiola to hail both his “quality and courage”.

Saturday’s tie began promisingly for the holders; Alfie Dorrington’s sixth-minute own goal nudged City ahead as Guardiola rotated heavily from the midweek victory over Fulham, where first-half strikes from Antoine Semenyo, Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland propelled the champions to within four points of Premier League leaders Arsenal. City have now avoided defeat in six consecutive matches across all competitions, steadying the ship after a stuttering start to 2026.

With a Carabao Cup final against Arsenal booked for 22 March and a league visit from Newcastle United looming, the timing of Alleyne’s injury will prompt anxious medical checks. Guardiola is expected to update reporters post-match on the severity of the problem, though the return of Dias to fitness, allied to the encouraging form shown by Guehi and Uzbek international Abdukodir Khusanov, affords the champions enviable depth at centre-half.

For now, City must balance progress on four fronts with the wellbeing of a homegrown talent whose rapid ascent has already required resilience far beyond his years.