Manchester City are on their travels again this weekend as they face Ipswich Town in the Premier League.
With Pep Guardiola accepting that his team will not be securing their fifth league title on the bounce this season, the Spaniard will be considering his priorities with a crucial Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain on the horizon.
After relinquishing a two-goal lead in the latter stages against Brentford on Wednesday, City are sixth in the table and could be eighth by the time they kick off at Portman Road.
Ipswich are enjoying the ride in the top tier having celebrated back-to-back promotions, and they’re the most likely of the newly promoted teams to stay in the divsion. However, they were unable to capitalise on Wolves’ defeat at Newcastle in midweek as they were beaten 2-0 at home by Brighton.
Kieran McKenna’s side are 18th heading into Sunday’s game, but City’s fallibility means they must believe an upset could be on the cards.
Ipswich have been the busiest Premier League club in the January transfer window thus far, and there could be starts for new arrivals Ben Godfrey and Jaden Philogene on Sunday. Philogene has only just completed his move from Aston Villa.
Omari Hutchinson recovered from a groin injury in time to face Brighton and he should be involved from the outset here. Sammie Szmodics it out with an ankle problem, however.
Kalvin Phillips is ineligible to face his parent club having arrived on loan in the summer. He joins Conor Chaplin, Chiedozie Ogbene and Axel Tuanzebe on the sidelines.
Ipswich lineup vs Man City (4-2-3-1): Walton; O’Shea, Godfrey, Greaves, Davis; Cajuste, Morsy; Philogene, Hutchinson, Clarke; Delap.
Ruben Dias and Oscar Bobb are both back in training, although we may have to wait a little longer to see the latter back in action given the length of his absence. Dias could be back in the matchday squad this weekend.
John Stones is also edging closer to a return but won’t feature at Portman Road. Rodri is out for the long haul.
Savinho has impressed down the left in recent weeks and Phil Foden scored twice at Brentford, but Guardiola must have one eye on City’s crucial upcoming Champions League encounter against PSG.
Kyle Walker will remain excluded from the squad until his future is resolved.
Man City lineup vs Ipswich (4-1-4-1): Ortega; Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Gundogan; Bernardo, McAtee, Foden, Doku; Haaland.
