Man City team news: Jeremy Doku injury update as Enzo Maresca confirms changes for Norwich EFL Cup tie

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has provided a caller update connected the fittingness of Jeremy Doku up of Thursday’s EFL Cup third-round necktie against Norwich City astatine the Etihad Stadium.

The Belgian winger has missed each of the Citizens’ past 5 matches successful each competitions since aggravating a calf wounded successful the Community Shield decision to Arsenal past month.

Prior to Man City’s "unbelievable" derby triumph implicit Man United connected Sunday, Maresca told reporters that Doku ‘needed immoderate much days’ earlier being considered for first-team selection.

The Italian manager has since issued a little yet affirmative update connected Doku’s recovery, with a instrumentality against Norwich not ruled retired entirely.

“We are happy. He is precise close,” Maresca said astatine a property league connected Wednesday morning.

Doku is Man City’s lone wounded concern, but they volition person to header without chap attacker Phil Foden, who will statesman serving his three-match suspension connected Thursday pursuing his consecutive reddish paper for convulsive behaviour against Man United.

Foden lack a ‘big blow’ for Man City, says Maresca

“For america it's a large [blow] due to the fact that helium was doing well”, said Maresca. “Phil started good for america and did bully successful the minutes he was connected the transportation connected Sunday but helium is retired tomorrow, past Sunderland and past Liverpool - past he’s backmost with us.

“Especially astatine fractional clip [Foden was] precise sad, precise upset due to the fact that helium knew it was thing wrong. Then aft helium was a small spot much happy. Yesterday helium was precise good! Phil knows astir apt the absorption was not a bully one, but it's finished and we determination on."

Asked if Man City volition situation Foden’s suspension, Maresca added: "We didn't talk astir it to beryllium honest, we'll see, I don't know."

Man City person made a cleanable commencement successful the Premier League this season, winning each of their opening 4 matches, and volition play big to Sunderland successful their adjacent top-flight fixture connected Sunday.

Before then, the Citizens volition endeavour to advancement past Championship outfit Norwich successful the EFL Cup, and Maresca has confirmed that helium intends to freshen up his starting lineup connected Thursday.

"For definite we're going to marque immoderate changes,” said the Man City boss. “I don't cognize however many, but for antithetic reasons, besides due to the fact that the ones that are going to play I'm definite astatine immoderate constituent successful the play they're going to play important games - Premier League, Champions League.

"Now it's aboriginal successful the season, [few suspensions and injuries], but past November, December, January, February, with the magnitude of games and injuries and needing rest, the players that are going to play tomorrow, for definite for them it's besides an accidental to get amended and amended and better, due to the fact that astatine immoderate constituent we request them besides successful antithetic competitions and important games."

Man City academy trio acceptable to diagnostic against Norwich

Three players who Maresca intends to springiness immoderate minutes to are academy graduates Ryan McAidoo, Kaden Braithwaite and Floyd Samba, who person each been grooming with the elder squad since the summer.

He said: “When we started pre-season, we had galore young players arsenic you know, and past astatine the extremity we decided to support these 3 players due to the fact that we deliberation they tin amended grooming with america and past they tin get immoderate minutes.

“Ryan played successful the Premier League twice, Kaden against Palace and the lone 1 who hasn’t had minutes is Floyd - but helium will, and they, volition beryllium progressive for sure.”

On the EFL Cup, Maresca added: "It's 1 much competition. We request to vie successful each competitions, truthful we're going to effort to bash our champion and past we'll spot wherever we finish."

Man City are eight-time winners of the EFL Cup – lone Liverpool (10) person won the contention much – and they person prevailed successful each of their past 3 meetings with Norwich by an aggregate people of 14-0.