While Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini may have loftier ambitions in the form of the Premier League title and Champions League, the Chilean is still expected to field a strong side against Newcastle United in the League Cup on Wednesday night.

Sergio Aguero could well be rested, but that is likely to provide an opportunity for either Edin Dzeko or Alvaro Negredo up front, or perhaps even both.

Elsewhere, following a mistake against Chelsea last time out, goalkeeper Joe Hart could drop out of the starting lineup, with Costel Pantilimon likely to deputise.

There could also be starts for the likes of Micah Richards, James Milner and Aleksandar Kolarov.

Meanwhile, hosting Newcastle may hand a place in the side to striker Papiss Cisse, despite his recent barren spell in front of goal. Injuries in the defence is also likely to mean that Paul Dummett will continue to feature.

St James' Park has not been the happiest of hunting grounds for the Citizens, who have won just 15 of their 80 trips to Tyneside.

However, when these two sides last met in this competition back in 1994, City came out on top 3-1 on aggregate. They also won on the opening day of the current campaign 4-0.

Recent form

Newcastle: LWLWDL
Man City: LLWWWL

Possible starting lineups:

Newcastle: Krul; Debuchy, Williamson, Dummett, Santon; Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Tiote, Obertan; Remy, Cisse

Man City: Pantilimon; Kolarov, Garcia, Nastasic, Zabaleta; Milner, Toure, Fernandinho, Nasri; Dzeko, Negredo

Sports Mole says: 1-2