Man City lineup vs. Newcastle United: Projected starting XI, team news, injury list with Rodri still sidelined

Dom Farrell

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Man City lineup vs. Newcastle United: Projected starting XI, team news, injury list with Rodri still sidelined image

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Manchester City will look to keep up their pursuit of Arsenal when they travel to Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola's side claimed an impressive 3-0 win over champions Liverpool prior to the international break that took them to within four points of the Gunners at the summit.

City have only won one of their past three visits to St James' Park and Newcastle boss Eddie Howe will hope the occasion and a boisterous home crowd can give his side a much-needed boost.

Newcastle went into the weekend just two points above the relegation zone and have only won three of 11 Premier League games so far this term.

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Man City lineup vs. Newcastle: Projected starting XI

Formation: 4-1-4-1

Donnarumma (GK)

Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly

Nico

Savinho, Foden, Silva, Doku

Haaland

Man City team news

City will once again be without Rodri, meaning Nico Gonzalez  will get the chance to continue his impressive form at the base of the midfield.

Rayan Cherki  was replaced early in the second half against Liverpool and Savinho  or Oscar Bobb  are options to start instead of the France international

Captain Bernardo Silva  is another option to play off the right of the midfield, but he feels more likely to edge Tijjani Reijnders out of a starting berth in the center.

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Man City injury list

Below is the latest injury picture for Manchester City, and estimated return dates for those who are sidelined.

Rodri

  • Injury: Hamstring
  • Expected return date:  November 25

Rodri has suffered a couple of muscular injury setbacks since his return from ACL surgery at the FIFA Club World Cup.

A late substitute cameo against Bournemouth was his first competitive action since suffering a hamstring problem at Brentford a month ago. He sat out the Liverpool match and Guardiola confirmed he was recovering well but would not be risked at Newcastle.

Mateo Kovacic

  • Injury: Heel/ankle
  • Expected return date:  February/March 2026

Croatia midfielder Kovacic only recently returned to action following Achilles surgery over the summer, but has suffered a serious setback.

After the 3-1 win over Bournemouth on November 2, Guardiola said the former Chelsea and Real Madrid player would be "out for a while".

"He still has a problem with the ankle, a little calcification still there. We'll wait on him for the last part of the season," the City boss added. Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti confirmed the news and said Kovacic's recovery was likely to take three to four months.

Newcastle vs. Man City match details

  • Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025
  • Kickoff time: 5:30 p.m. Local / 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT 
  • Location:  St James' Park (Newcastle, England)
  • Competition: Premier League matchweek 12
  • Referee:  Samuel Barrott
  • VAR: Craig Pawson

Latest Man City news

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