Pep Guardiola's Manchester City squad travel to Birmingham to face Aston Villa under their new manager Steven Gerrard.

Villa have won their opening two games of Gerrard's reign, and will be hoping to extend that 100% record as they host the Premier League champions.

City won't be able to call upon two key players for the visit to Villa Park, with Kevin de Bruyne, fresh from finishing inside the top 10 at the 2021 Ballon d'Or awards, still suffering from coronavirus symptoms, while Jack Grealish, their £100 million signing, and Villa's former captain, also looks set to miss out on a return to his boyhood club.

Grealish hasn't started a game since City's 4-1 Champions League win over Club Brugge on 3 November, and it looks like he'll miss out entirely on playing at Villa Park not in claret and blue.

Phil Foden could potentially be another casualty, while Ferran Torres certainly won't be involved. Aymeric Laporte will sit this one out through suspension.

So, City have been struck fairly heavily through injury issues, and Cole Palmer might be given another chance from the start.

Potential Man City Starting XI vs Aston Villa

Ederson will be in between the sticks, while Kyle Walker is likely to keep his place at right-back while Joao Cancelo on the left, although Oleksandr Zinchenko might be given a run out at left-back.

John Stones will partner Ruben Dias in Laporte's absence.

Fernandinho scored last time out in the win over West Ham, but Rodri will keep his place as the deepest of the midfield three. Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan will once again play either side of the Spaniard.

Cole Palmer was handed his first Premier League start against Everton, and Guardiola could turn to the youngster again. He may feature in a false nine position, with Gabriel Jesus on the right, and Raheem Sterling to his left.