Manchester City Host Wolves Amidst Persistent Injury Concerns
Premier League leaders aim to close gap on Arsenal despite significant squad absences.
Sarah Connor
Manchester City are set to host Wolves at the Etihad Stadium, with manager Pep Guardiola confirming that while some players may return, the squad continues to grapple with significant injury concerns.
Pep Guardiola emphasized that a victory against Wolves would reduce the deficit to just four points, as he expressed full confidence in his team during his pre-match press conference.
The squad could be bolstered by the potential return of four players who missed recent fixtures, including Antoine Semenyo, Bernardo Silva, and Jeremy Doku.
Bernardo Silva is anticipated to return to the starting XI, providing a significant boost to the midfield.
Marc Guehi is also in line to make his debut for the club, having completed a £20 million transfer from Crystal Palace.
Doku, who was an unused substitute in the recent 3-1 loss, will be hoping to feature against Wolves as the team seeks to overcome their injury woes.
However, the injury list remains extensive, with several key players still unavailable, including Matheus Nunes, who is considered a major doubt for the upcoming match.
Nico Gonzalez remains sidelined and has been definitively ruled out of the squad for the fixture.
Mateo Kovacic has been out of action since January 17, 2026, due to an ankle injury.
Defensive stalwarts Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and John Stones are all currently unavailable, highlighting the depth of City's defensive challenges.
Wolves enter the match with renewed confidence, having not suffered a defeat since their away game at Liverpool.
The West Midlands side has shown considerable improvement under manager Rob Edwards and is currently unbeaten in their last four Premier League matches.
Securing one win and three draws in that span, Wolves will be looking to cause an upset against Manchester City.
Manchester City boasts an impressive recent record against Wolves in the Premier League, having won 10 of their last 11 meetings.
The club has scored a remarkable 32 goals in these encounters, maintaining a dominant historical edge.
City has been formidable against teams at the lower end of the table, winning 24 of their last 30 top-flight games against such opposition.
This record includes an astonishing nine consecutive home wins against these teams.
Oscar Bobb has reportedly claimed he sustained an injury, though details remain unspecified.
A representative from Fulham has claimed that the London club has submitted a bid for Oscar Bobb.
As of January 24, 2026, there has been no official response from Manchester City or Pep Guardiola regarding Fulham's reported bid for the player.
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FootballPremier LeagueManchester CitySportsMarc GuehiPep GuardiolaErling HaalandWolves