| Manchester City vs Huddersfield | |
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MATCH INFO |
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MATCH :
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Manchester City vs Huddersfield
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COMPETITION :
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FA Cup
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| DATE: |
07-01-2024
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TIME:
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07.30 PM IST (UTC +5:30)
06.00 PM UAE
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STADIUM
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Etihad Stadium
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Predicted Line-Up
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ortega; Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gomez; Lewis, Kovacic; Bobb, Foden, Hamilton; Alvarez
Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Nicholls; Lees, Ayina, Helik; Kasumu, Rudoni, Wiles, Diarra, Edmonds-Green; Thomas, Koroma
eam Challenges and New Signings Set the Stage for Man City vs. Huddersfield Clash in FA Cup
As the FA Cup third-round showdown between Manchester City and Huddersfield approaches, both teams find themselves grappling with various challenges that could impact their lineups and strategies.
In a fortunate turn of events, Manchester City has managed to avoid significant disruptions due to the impending Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup tournaments, setting them apart from many of their Premier League counterparts. The return of Jeremy Doku from a muscular problem adds a potential boost to City's attacking options. However, manager Pep Guardiola has expressed concerns about the fitness of Erling Haaland, who is dealing with a foot issue. Additionally, injuries continue to sideline key players such as John Stones (ankle) and Rodri, who is unavailable due to the passing of his grandmother.
A virus has further complicated matters for City, affecting several players including Scott Carson, Matheus Nunes, Kalvin Phillips, and Bernardo Silva. Their availability for the third-round tie remains uncertain, posing a challenge for Guardiola's selection process.
On the other side, Huddersfield faces a different set of hurdles, with two of their players representing their respective countries in international competitions. Charles Ondo has been called up to represent Equatorial Guinea at the AFCON, while Yuta Nakayama received the call from Japan for the Asian Cup, leaving the Terriers without these key players for an extended period.
Huddersfield is already grappling with an injury crisis that deepened with left-back Jaheim Headley's ankle injury in a recent match against Leicester. The treatment room is crowded with players like Oliver Turton (ACL), Patrick Jones (hamstring), Jonathan Hogg (discomfort), Kian Harratt (hamstring), Josh Ruffels (groin), Matty Pearson (knock), Daniel Ward (leg), Chris Maxwell (knock), and Delano Burgzorg (ankle).
Despite their challenges, Huddersfield has made moves in the transfer market, securing the services of Chelsea-owned Alex Matos and Serbian striker Bojan Radulovic. However, Radulovic awaits international clearance, adding a layer of uncertainty to his availability for the FA Cup clash.
As both teams navigate these obstacles, the FA Cup encounter promises to be a compelling battle with potential surprises in store. The contrasting situations of Manchester City and Huddersfield set the stage for an intriguing third-round matchup at the Etihad Stadium.