Manchester City’s Haaland available to start against Aston Villa, Maresca says
Erling Haaland was rested against AEK Athens after a knock, but Enzo Maresca says he is ready to start Saturday’s Premier League match at Villa Park.
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca said on 20 October that Erling Haaland was available to start Saturday’s Premier League match against Aston Villa at Villa Park, according to a report by Esteemed Kompany that relayed his comments through the Manchester Evening News. The update gives City a clearer picture of the striker’s availability after he missed the starting lineup against AEK Athens because of a knock.
Maresca said Haaland was ‘okay to start’ against Villa, Esteemed Kompany reported, citing the Manchester Evening News for the quotation. Haaland had been named on the bench against AEK Athens despite being rested, according to Sports Mole. The manager’s assessment concerns his readiness for Saturday; City’s starting lineup has yet to be named.
Manchester City injury picture before Aston Villa
Sports Mole lists Antoine Semenyo as unavailable with a knee injury and says he is expected to remain out until the end of December. It describes Nico O’Reilly as a major doubt because of a back injury after he missed the AEK Athens match. Mateo Kovacic is also a major doubt following a knock that forced him off against Ipswich Town and kept him out against AEK Athens, the outlet reports.
Matheus Nunes needs an assessment after being forced off against Ipswich with a knock, Sports Mole reports, while no Manchester City players are suspended for the Villa match. Those fitness questions leave Maresca with decisions beyond Haaland as City prepare for their next league fixture.
Aston Villa fixture and Maresca’s next update
Manchester City’s official match preview schedules kickoff for 12:30 p.m. UK time on Saturday 24 October at Villa Park. Sports Mole says City lead the Premier League with 21 points from seven matches, while Villa are 12th with eight points. Haaland’s reported availability matters to a side seeking to protect that lead on the road.
The club says Maresca is scheduled to speak to journalists on Thursday 23 October at 10:30 a.m. UK time, with injury news expected in its subsequent coverage. UK viewers can watch the match on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, according to City’s preview.
Read in depth: Sports
Rays reach World Series with trade-built roster and one of MLB’s lowest payrolls
Tampa Bay’s third American League pennant puts its roster strategy in focus: 16 players arrived through trades, according to the Associated Press.
Adam Silver says LeBron James’s Fanatics helicopter deal is permissible if no team is involved
The NBA commissioner said players may make their own sponsor deals, while teams cannot help arrange them. Questions about the 76ers’ role remain unresolved.
Sources and context
- Aston Villa Aston Villa Man City Manchester CityManchester City FC (official club preview, republished by Yahoo Sports)
- Man City injury, suspension list and return dates vs. Aston Villa: Erling Haaland, Antoine Semenyo, Nico O'Reilly latestSports Mole
- Manchester City handed a huge boost ahead of Aston Villa clash with Erling Haaland available to playEsteemed Kompany; relays Manchester Evening News reporting and Maresca's quote
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.