Manchester City go into Manchester City vs Sunderland with two very different pieces of team news. Jérémy Doku could be in the matchday squad after missing City’s opening four Premier League games with a calf issue, while Phil Foden is definitely out after his red card in the Manchester derby.
Doku's possible return
Enzo Maresca has not ruled out the winger returning for Sunday’s trip to Sunderland. The game comes in City’s fifth Premier League match of the season, and Doku’s absence has already stretched across four league games.
That layoff has not been long in calendar terms, but it has limited City’s wide options early in the campaign. Doku has only played 45 minutes for the club this season, in the Community Shield defeat by Arsenal last month.
City are not dealing with a full attacking crisis here. They are dealing with one possible boost and one confirmed loss, and the Doku update is the one that can actually change the shape of the squad on Saturday.
Foden's suspension and the front line
Foden’s ban forces the issue in a different way. He will miss games against Norwich City, Sunderland and Liverpool after being sent off for violent conduct in the Manchester derby, and the first domestic game he can play is against Ipswich Town on October 17.
His season has already included three Premier League appearances and two goal contributions, so City are losing a player who has been part of the attack rather than a spare option. That is why the Sunderland trip is being viewed through availability rather than the fixture itself.
If Doku is cleared, City at least regain one winger while Foden serves his suspension. If he is not, the squad for a game against Sunderland looks a lot thinner on the flanks than it should this early in the season.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
