Maresca’s Derby Dilemma: O’Reilly Returns as City Weighs Midfield Changes

MANCHESTER, England — Enzo Maresca faces a series of tactical decisions before Manchester City’s Sunday Premier League derby against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Several new signings are integrating into the squad, while key players are returning from injury for Maresca’s first derby in charge of the club.

The midfield picture changed last weekend when summer signing Enzo Fernandez made an unexpected debut against Coventry City. He partnered fellow new recruit Elliot Anderson in the center of the pitch during City’s 1-0 league victory, after Nico O’Reilly withdrew from the starting lineup during the warm-up because of a back injury.

O’Reilly could now return to the team. The academy graduate is back in full training and available for selection after missing the midweek UEFA Champions League opener in Portugal. City won that match 2-0 against FC Porto, and on Friday Maresca confirmed that O’Reilly was “100 percent available” for the trip to Old Trafford.

Fernandez and Anderson’s performance against Coventry has put them in contention to start again. Maresca must therefore weigh O’Reilly’s tactical versatility against the emerging partnership as Manchester City seeks to control the tempo of Sunday’s match.

The squad still does not include winger Jeremy Doku. The Belgian international is continuing his rehabilitation from a calf injury sustained last month during the Community Shield against Arsenal in Cardiff. Club staff are targeting next Thursday’s Carabao Cup tie against Norwich City at the Etihad Stadium for Doku’s potential return.

After Norwich City, City will host Sunderland before the autumn international break. The schedule then includes domestic play against Liverpool and a UEFA Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain.

At the back, Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is expected to start behind Portugal’s Ruben Dias and England international Marc Guehi. Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol is slated to play at left-back, while Matheus Nunes is pushing to retain his place on the right side of the defense. Nunes made his first start of the campaign against Porto after recovering from an ankle injury.

Erling Haaland is set to lead the attack, with Rayan Cherki projected in the central playmaker role directly behind him. Antoine Semenyo is expected to start on the left wing, while Phil Foden is pressing for a place on the right.

Foden came off the bench to replace Iliman Ndiaye in Porto and has scored seven career goals against Manchester United. The predicted Manchester City XI is: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Fernandez, Anderson; Foden, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland.