Manchester City vs Southampton: Man City team news | De Bruyne and Foden expected to feature

2020-21 Premier League champions Manchester City are on the hunt for more points to put the pressure on league leaders and cross-city rivals Manchester United on Saturday against Southampton.

City boss Pep Guardiola will surely have been given a boost following the returns of Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden.

Both players returned for City against RB Leipzig in their 6-3 midweek mauling in the Champions League and are likely to feature against Southampton as they rebuild their match fitness.

Manchester City vs Southampton: Saints team news | Hasenhuttl gives Armstrong & Walcott injury update

However, two central defenders were notable omissions from the Manchester City matchday squad on Wednesday and it’s thought they will also miss out on Southampton’s visit on Saturday.

Aymeric Laporte and John Stones are both nursing injuries that have kept them out of action. If that’s the case again on the weekend, Ruben Dias will likely be paired with Nathan Ake in the centre of the City defence against Saints.

Though, it must be noted that Ake has had a family tragedy to deal with this week.

Just minutes after the Netherlands international scored his first Champions League goal, Ake’s father Moise tragically passed away following an illness.

Our thoughts are with Ake and his family at this time.