Why Phil Foden & Ruben Dias missed Man City clash v Nottingham Forest

Ruben Dias and Phil Foden were surprise absentees from Manchester City’s squad for Sunday’s trip to Nottingham Forest.

The pair weren’t spotted arriving at the City Ground with the team and were subsequently not named in the 20-man squad for the Premier League encounter.

Dias was an unused substitute in Thursday’s 4-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion and was tipped to return to the line-up, while Foden played a starring role at the Amex and scored twice. However, illness prevented both being being named in the City squad on Sunday.

Speaking to Sky ahead of the game, Guardiola was asked Foden’s absence: “He's not ready. He's ill,” the City boss replied. “He didn't feel good today, and he is back to Manchester. It is what it is. In a long season, it always happens this kind of thing. Another one is going to play.”

While the duo were missing, Erling Haaland returned after missing the last two games with a muscular injury. However, the striker was selected on the bench with Julian Alvarez continuing up front. With no Foden, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish started in the wide areas.

City lined up with a back five of Ederson, Kyle Walker, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol, while John Stones remained on the bench for the second game in a row.

Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne made up a familiar midfield, and Doku, Alvarez and Grealish leading the line. Rico Lewis was named on the bench and could make his 50th appearance if introduced against Forest. City’s nine-man substitutes included two goalkeepers.

As for Forest, Wily Boly was a surprise start, just his second of the calendar year.

City: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Rodri, Silva, De Bruyne; Doku, Alavarez, Grealish. Substitutes: Ortega, Carson, Stones, Lewis, Gomez, Kovacic, Nunes, Bobb, Haaland.

Forest: Sels; Williams, Boly, Niakhate, Murillo, Aina; Danilo, Gibbs-White; Elanga, Wood, Hudson-Odoi. Substitutes: Turner, Omobamidele, Toffolo, Montiel, Yates, Sangare, Reyna, Origi, Ribiero.