Early team news: Ruben Dias starts for Manchester City and Phil Foden returns vs Aston Villa (Premier League)

Ruben Dias starts for Manchester City for the first time since October, as per various sources in the run-up to official team news on Sunday afternoon.

Manchester City will be looking to move within just three points of the current pace-setters Arsenal ahead of Wednesday night’s mammoth clash between the two Premier League title challengers.

Mikel Arteta’s side followed their 1-0 defeat to Everton last weekend with a 1-1 draw against Brentford on Saturday afternoon, as City look to take advantage of dropped points at the second time of asking.

Their first opportunity was missed last weekend, as a single goal from Harry Kane secured Spurs all three points in a 1-0 defeat for Pep Guardiola and his players at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Aston Villa are the visitors this time around, in the first meeting between the two clubs since their dramatic final day clash at the end of last season.

In the run-up to Pep Guardiola and Unai Emery’s official release of their starting line-ups, various sources have began to reveal elements of the Manchester City XI as they look to bounce back from their last Premier League outing.

According to Joe Bray, Ruben Dias starts for Manchester City against Aston Villa in the Premier League this weekend.

Additionally, Phil Foden returns to the City matchday squad following bouts of injury and illness across the most recent fixtures.

Nathan Ake, Rico Lewis, and Manuel Akanji are all on the bench, according to an additional source.

Pep Guardiola and Unai Emery are expected to name their official Manchester City and Aston Villa starting line-ups at 15:30 BST.

Now official: