Rayan Ait-Nouri suffers injury concern in Manchester City’s draw with Nottingham Forest reveals Pep Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Rayan Ait-Nouri is an injury doubt ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round trip to Newcastle United after the Algerian full-back was forced off with hamstring tightness during Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.

The 24-year-old, who has cemented himself as a fixture in Guardiola’s rearguard, signalled discomfort in his left hamstring midway through the second half at the City of Manchester Stadium and was immediately withdrawn as a precaution. Within minutes of his exit, Elliot Anderson snatched a late equaliser for Forest, a goal that left the champions seven points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal and intensified scrutiny on City’s thinning defensive resources.

Speaking at the City Football Academy on Friday, Guardiola praised Ait-Nouri’s recent progression before delivering the unwelcome update. “He’s playing really, really good,” the Catalan said. “Unfortunately in the last game he had some niggles in the legs, he didn’t feel comfortable at all, so that’s why we didn’t want to take a risk.”

Guardiola highlighted the wing-back’s tactical maturity, noting: “He made a step forward a lot in the last games, understanding what we want, what we need, and his quality with the ball is fantastic. He gives us extra passes, and defensively he’s more aggressive and more fast than people could think about it. And the question of working the line, he’s getting better.”

City’s medical staff will assess Ait-Nouri in a final fitness test on Friday afternoon. Should he be ruled out, Guardiola must decide between the experienced Nathan Aké, the dynamism of Matheus Nunes in an unfamiliar role, or the returning Nico O’Reilly, himself only recently back from injury, to fill the void at St James’ Park.

The potential absence of the Algerian international is ill-timed: a demanding March slate continues with the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu next Wednesday, a contest in which Ait-Nouri’s ability to invert into midfield and provide the “extra passes” Guardiola prizes could prove pivotal.

City’s back-line has already navigated a congested calendar without the stabilising presence of the former Wolves man, and another enforced reshuffle will test the squad’s depth as they pursue silverware on multiple fronts.