Early team news: Erling Haaland availability ruled out for Manchester City vs Watford (Carabao Cup Third Round)

Manchester City return to action with a tie in the Third Round of the Carabao Cup as Watford travel to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.

Pep Guardiola and his players will be hoping to reach the fourth round of the first cup competition of the new season, whilst in turn maintaining and extending their unbeaten start to the new campaign.

Four successive wins in the Premier League have been followed by back-to-back draws in the UEFA Champions League opener against Inter, whilst playing out an enthralling 2-2 contest with top-flight title rivals Arsenal on Sunday.

As for Tom Cleverley’s Watford, the Hornets find themselves in eighth position in the current EFL Championship standings, having won three of their opening six matches, drawing one and losing the other two.

Pep Guardiola will be without a number of players through injury on Tuesday night, and for the foreseeable too, with Nathan Ake and Oscar Bobb ruled out and joined by Rodri – who sustained a serious knee injury in the draw against Arsenal.

Kevin De Bruyne has also been deemed unavailable but is only suffering from a short-term muscular issue, having been withdrawn at half-time against Inter last week. A return against Newcastle remains possible, but was not guaranteed by Pep Guardiola.

Ahead of the confirmed team news from the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night, some initial information has began to filter throughout social media from journalists and sources regarding Manchester City’s starting line-up.

According to the information of the Manchester Evening News’ Simon Bajkowski, Erling Haaland will be unavailable against Watford, having been issued with a period of leave to return to Norway for the funeral of family friend, Ivar Eggja – who passed away this month.

Additionally, as per the information of The Athletic’s David Ornstein, 16-year-old Kaden Braithwaite makes his senior professional debut in Manchester City’s starting line-up against Watford.

Pep Guardiola and Tom Cleverley are expected to confirmed their respective Manchester City and Watford starting line-ups around 18:30 (UK) on Tuesday evening.

Now confirmed.