Pep Guardiola says Manchester City will have to field several youngsters against Wycombe Wanderers as the club continues to struggle with injuries.
The Sky Blues are facing a number of injury issues heading into their first cup tie of the campaign, with Manchester City looking to retain the Carabao Cup for the fifth year running.
Aymeric Laporte, John Stones, Rodri and Oleksandr Zinchenko missed Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Southampton.
Guardiola has also revealed midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is also a doubt to face Wycombe in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday and admits he will need to use academy players in the third-round match.
“I don’t have any alternative… we are going to play a few young players,” Guardiola said.
“We have John (Stones), Aymeric (Laporte), Oleks (Zinchenko), Rodri and I think Gundogan all of them injured.
“It’s a good opportunity for the academy – that’s why they are there.”
After facing Wycombe, City take on Premier League leaders Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and then Liverpool within the space of nine days.
Guardiola says he will look to rotate some of his key players against the League One side, with one eye on the trip to Stamford Bridge on September 25.
“Some players might rest for the games we have coming up ahead of us,” he added.
“Ruben (Dias) played all of the minutes so far and Joao (Cancelo) played all of the minutes, too, so I don’t think they will be able to play in this game.”
These Guardiola’s comments has prompt Plenty of Sky Blues to react on social media, with many fans begging for new signing Kayky to play.
PLAY HIM, PLEASE. pic.twitter.com/MGo96eofNj
— 𝓛𝓮𝓮🍊 (@IeeSZN) September 19, 2021
Kayky or we riot
— ³⁷ (@_KaykySZN) September 19, 2021
Give kayky a chance
— mancitytillidie (@FreezeGazoMdXx) September 19, 2021
Literally on my knees I’m down bad Kayky aswell
— Nicz1 (@Nicz112) September 19, 2021
LET MCATEE, DELAP, PALMER, LAVIA AND KAYKY COOK BALDY🔥🔥
— 🏴 (@okayokay12321) September 19, 2021
Give Kayky a chance let him show what he can do
— laura (@jiwanxsol) September 19, 2021
KAYKY TIME! pic.twitter.com/DitFQZGDak
— 🅰️ (@abzMCFC) September 19, 2021
It was announced in April that the Club had reached an agreement with Fluminense for the 18-year-old, who has now joined up with Pep Guardiola’s first team squad at the City Football Academy.
The Brazilian youth international has penned a five-year deal which keeps him at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2026.
After watching the first team in action at the Etihad on Wednesday night during their 6-3 Champions League win over Leipzig, Kayky trained with the senior squad and Pep Guardiola for the first time on Friday after the last bits of paperwork were sorted out.
He will continue to be involved in the senior set-up over the coming months, as part of the pool of young players whose development is aided by training regularly with Guardiola and his coaching staff.
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