Early team news: Two Academy names join squad as five first-teamers absent for Brighton vs Manchester City (Premier League)

Ben Knight and Alex Robertson are part of the Manchester City travelling squad to have made the journey to Brighton tonight, as per sources in the run-up to kick-off.

Manchester City are back in action once again this week, as they look to shake off their post-Premier League title celebrations and re-focus ahead of two history-defining finals that follow the end of the English top-flight season.

Pep Guardiola and his players travel to Brighton’s Amex Stadium on Wednesday night, before returning to the south of England on Sunday afternoon for their final game of the 2022/23 Premier League season at Brentford.

The two final Premier League matches of the season are expected to act as warm-ups for Manchester City’s FA Cup final meeting with Manchester United at Wembley next month, as well as a Champions League final clash against Inter in Istanbul.

Ahead of the official release of the starting line-ups this evening however, sources have began to report on Manchester City’s team news.

According to the information of Twitter user FPL Raptor, Manchester City will be without five first-team names against Roberto De Zerbi’s side, with Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Aymeric Laporte, and Nathan Ake all absent from the travelling squad.

As such, Ben Knight and Alex Robertson have reportedly joined the squad that made the short flight to London Gatwick on Wednesday morning, before continuing the trip to Brighton via team coach.

That information has left may wondering who could start at the heart of Manchester City’s defence, with the same source suggesting that it could be Rodri that fills in – presumably lining up alongside John Stones.

Roberto De Zerbi and Pep Guardiola are expected to confirm their respective starting line-ups at 19:00 BST.

Now confirmed.