Early team news: Kevin De Bruyne returns to Man City squad vs Bournemouth (Premier League)

Manchester City travel to Bournemouth on Saturday evening with a view to maintaining the touching distance between themselves and Arsenal.

City have only recently returned from their Champions League exploits in Germany on Wednesday night, with Pep Guardiola’s side being held to a 1-1 draw by RB Leipzig in the first-leg of a last-16 tie.

Attentions now quickly return to English top-flight action, as Manchester City intense run of away games across all competitions takes them onto the south coast of England, just days prior to an FA Cup fifth round tie at Bristol City next week.

Gary O’Neil’s Bournemouth are the latest opponents to test Manchester City’s Premier League title-winning credentials, after Nottingham Forest issued the perfect game-plan against Guardiola and his team last weekend.

Bernardo Silva’s first-half opener set City on their way to a crucial victory on the road after the 1-3 win at Arsenal just days prior. However, a late equaliser from Chris Wood meant the reigning Champions were left ruing a host of missed opportunities across the contest.

In the run-up to Gary O’Neil and Pep Guardiola’s official release of their starting line-ups, various sources have began to reveal elements of the XI’s as the latter continues his head-to-head battle against his former assistant coach Mikel Arteta at the top of the Premier League.

According to one source, Kevin De Bruyne has returned to the Manchester City squad at Bournemouth, after missing out on the trip to Leipzig through illness.

Additionally, Ederson retains his place as City’s number one in goal, despite some calls from a portion of supporters for Stefan Ortega to come into the side.

Gary O’Neil and Pep Guardiola are expected to name their official Bournemouth and Manchester City starting line-ups at 16:30 BST.

Now confirmed: