Early team news: Jeremy Doku misses out as John Stones place confirmed for Aston Villa vs Manchester City

Several elements of Pep Guardiola latest Manchester City starting line-up have been revealed by sources in the lead up to Wednesday night’s Premier League clash.

The reigning Premier League champions will be hoping to fend off the threat of Aston Villa and their hopes of leapfrogging Manchester City within the English top-flight’s top-four through victory at home.

Despite high praise from manager Pep Guardiola around their performances of late, Manchester City’s results in the Premier League have faltered since prior to the November international break.

A 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea gave City’s stars plenty to mull over during their respective spells with national teams, before returning to endure 1-1 and 3-3 home draws against Liverpool and Tottenham respectively.

With their Catalan coach claiming that performances in those three fixtures would win them the Premier League this season, if maintained, Manchester City will be hoping to show just that against a high-flying Aston Villa side also competing in European competition this season.

Ahead of the confirmed line-ups from Villa Park, sources on social media have began releasing information around Pep Guardiola’s selection, with the first details offered by X user FPLMaineRoad.

Following an injury sustained in the second-half of the 3-3 draw with Tottenham on Sunday afternoon, which forced the Belgian to withdraw from action early, Jeremy Doku will not start this one but could feature among the named substitutes, according to FPLMaineRoad.

In a significant boost to both Manchester City fans and players alike, it has also been reported that John Stones will start for the Treble winners against Aston Villa according to the same source, whilst Jake Gorfin reports that Rico Lewis will also start.

Gorfin further reveals that Julian Alvarez is also part of Manchester City’s starting line-up at Villa Park, alongside club captain Kyle Walker.

As for the substitutes bench, Kalvin Phillips retains his place on the sidelines despite Rodri’s one-game suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards, according to Jake Gorfin, with the England international joined by the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Nathan Ake, Oscar Bobb, and Matheus Nunes.

FPLMaineRoad has further revealed the complete starting line-up selected by Pep Guardiola: Ederson; Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Josko Gvardiol; John Stones, Rico Lewis, Bernardo Silva; Julian Alvarez, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden.

Unai Emery and Pep Guardiola are expected to confirm their respective starting line-ups from 19:15 (UK) on Wednesday night.

Now confirmed