Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has delivered a positive update on Nico O’Reilly while admitting Jeremy Doku remains uncertain for this weekend’s Premier League derby against Manchester United.
City are currently focused on their Champions League opener against Porto at Estadio do Dragao on Tuesday. The squad arrived in Portugal on Monday evening, but O’Reilly and Doku were both missing from the 22-man travelling group.
O’Reilly was absent from Monday’s open training session after suffering a minor back problem during the warm-up before City’s 1-0 Premier League victory over Coventry on Saturday. The 21-year-old had initially been named in the starting lineup but was forced to withdraw before kickoff.
Despite missing the Porto trip, O’Reilly could recover in time to face Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Asked about the availability of O’Reilly and Doku for the derby, Maresca said: “Nico probably yes, Jeremy we’re not sure yet, we need to wait.”
Doku has been sidelined since suffering a calf injury during last month’s Community Shield defeat to Arsenal. Maresca had previously suggested the winger would be unavailable for between two and three weeks, but his recovery is progressing.
“He is back,” Maresca said. “I don’t know if he can be available for the weekend, but slowly, slowly he is back.”
Without Doku against Porto, deadline-day arrival Iliman Ndiaye could make his Champions League debut for City on the left wing. Antoine Semenyo can also operate there, although he is expected to remain on the right.
Josko Gvardiol is likely to continue at left-back while O’Reilly is unavailable, with Rayan Ait-Nouri another option. Enzo Fernandez, who replaced O’Reilly against Coventry, could retain his midfield place alongside Elliot Anderson.
New signing Allan, meanwhile, trained on Monday and travelled to Portugal, putting him in contention to make his City debut.
Maresca has also received a boost with Matheus Nunes available again following an ankle injury suffered before the Community Shield.
“I’m good, I am 100%. It was my ankle the day before Arsenal. I had a tackle and it was sore for a while, but now I am fine,” Nunes said.
The Portugal international also said he is “happy” playing at right-back and could challenge Abdukodir Khusanov for a starting place against Porto.
