Manchester City could be without three injured players for Saturday's Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium.

While Kevin De Bruyne remains out with a long-term hamstring injury, Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku are both unlikely to feature due to respective foot and muscle problems.

Guardiola revealed earlier this week that Haaland is set to return to training on Thursday, but then stated at his press conference on Friday that he does not expect the striker to play against Palace.

Saturday's game is also set to come too soon for Doku after the Citizens boss stated last weekend that the winger may need "one week or two weeks" to recover from his injury.

Nine changes were made to the Man City lineup for Wednesday's 3-2 win against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League, and Guardiola is expected to recall a number of first-team regulars for the clash with Palace, with goalkeeper Ederson set to return at the expense of Stefan Ortega.

John Stones and Manuel Akanji are in contention to retain their places, but Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol are all pushing to return in defence, meaning that one of the former two could be handed a start in midfield alongside Rodri.

After scoring his first Man City goal in midweek, Kalvin Phillips is set to drop back down to the substitutes' bench along with Matheus Nunes, but Mateo Kovacic could keep his place in midfield if Guardiola opts against selecting either Stones or Akanji in the engine room.

Jack Grealish was taken off at half time against Red Star after taking a heavy knock to his midriff, but he should be fit to feature on the left flank this weekend, while Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva are expected to be recalled at the expense of academy duo Oscar Bobb and Micah Hamilton, who started and scored their first senior goals in midweek.

The expected absence of Haaland, who scored four goals in two games against Palace last season, will likely see Julian Alvarez operate as the central striker, with Bobb providing cover as a substitute.

Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake; Kovacic, Rodri; Foden, Bernardo, Grealish; Alvarez body check tags ::