Why Phil Foden isn't in the Man City squad vs Crystal Palace as he adds to injury problems
Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden will not feature against Crystal Palace after the knock he picked up in the derby
Phil Foden became the sixth Manchester City player to be ruled out of the Premier League game with Crystal Palace because of injury. Foden was unable to shake off a knock picked up in the Manchester derby and was not in the matchday squad at the Etihad on Saturday.
There had been hopes that the 24-year-old would be available but in the end it proved too much for him to recover in time after being taken off early in the derby. It adds to a frustrating season for Foden, who has not been able to get going at any point this year after being named the best player in the league last season.
Foden is one of six players missing through injury in a campaign where Pep Guardiola's hopes have been wrecked by them. Rodri, Manu Akanji, John Stones, Nathan Ake and Erling Haaland also miss the clash.
James McAtee makes his first Premier League start for the club in one of three changes from the dull derby draw, with Nico Gonzalez and Rico Lewis also coming in.
McAtee is one of several players tied on six goals for the season in all competitions and will hope to mark his first league start by nudging into third place in the goalscoring charts.
Gonzalez also comes in after sitting on the bench for games against Bournemouth and United. Guardiola spoke on Friday to explain why he hasn't been using the January signing every match.
"The impact for the news ones has been really good. I'm impressed in training," he said.
"It's not easy when they come to an environment where the way we are playing and the results are not good. Nico has played good and I'm pretty sure when Rodri comes back just by mimicking him in training sessions he will learn a lot.
"He's another guy who understands many things and he will get it because he listens, he is so attentive and focused on his work - football, football, football.
"That's so important and the times he played - against Brighton he regained the ball and there was a transition and we could score so he has done many good things. With the ball, he has to move less. I don't like holding midfielders who move a lot, they have to be smaller in the position but I'm pretty sure he will get it. he has physicality, he wants to learn, he learns quick and it's going to happen."
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