MX23RW : Monday, February 18 14:57:40

How Manchester City could line up against Newport County

Sports Mole looks at how Manchester City could line up for their FA Cup fifth-round clash with League Two Newport County at Rodney Parade.

Manchester City will resume their challenge on all fronts this Saturday when they take on League Two side Newport County at Rodney Parade in the FA Cup fifth round.

City have already mercilessly put lower-league opposition to the sword in cup competitions this season, scoring 20 goals without reply in their four such outings in 2018-19.

It is not just teams from lower divisions that have felt the brunt of the English champions' attacking might, though, with Man City hitting six past Chelsea in a stunning display last time out.

Newport's task looks like a thankless one as they attempt to pull off one of the biggest FA Cup upsets in recent memory, then, and here Sports Mole looks at how Pep Guardiola could line his side up for the match.



Possible MNC XI vs. NEW

Out: Vincent Kompany (muscle), Claudio Bravo (Achilles)
Doubtful: Benjamin Mendy (knee)

> Click here for the latest Man City injury and suspension news

Changes are expected from Guardiola, but he is still able to name a strong side and the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus could all feature.

Fringe players such as Phil Foden and Eric Garcia will also be hopeful of more game time, although £60m summer signing Riyad Mahrez also falls into that category to accentuate the chasm between the two sides.

Guardiola is likely to rest his key players - Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho, Raheem Sterling, David Silva and more - while there could be starts for Danilo, Nicolas Otamendi and Oleksandr Zinchenko in defence, the latter having marked his return to the side with two assists in the rout of Chelsea.

Benjamin Mendy has an outside chance of featuring, although Guardiola is being cautious of his recovery and the full-back is not expected to start even if he is passed fit enough to be in contention.

Arijanet Muric will be hopeful of a rare start in goal, but Guardiola has stuck with Ederson in the FA Cup so far this season whereas Muric has been limited to EFL Cup appearances.

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Who will win Saturday's FA Cup clash between Newport County and Man City?

Newport
Draw
Man City
Newport
21.7%
Draw
0.0%
Man City
78.3%
Chelsea's Eden Hazard celebrates scoring against Tottenham Hotspur in their EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Tottenham Hotspur on January 24, 2019
Read Next:
Combined XI: Man City vs. Chelsea
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City27212474205465
2Liverpool26205159154465
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs26200654252960
4Manchester UnitedMan Utd26156552351751
5Arsenal26155653371650
6Chelsea26155645291650
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2611693433139
8Watford2610793434037
9Everton2796123639-333
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham2696113239-733
11Bournemouth26103133747-1033
12Leicester CityLeicester2695123134-332
13Crystal Palace2676132734-727
14Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2676132839-1127
15Burnley2676132947-1827
16Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2667132234-1225
17Cardiff CityCardiff2674152447-2325
18Southampton2659122844-1624
19Fulham2645172558-3317
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2625191448-3411

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