Man City hit by Marc Guehi blow for Carabao Cup after January transfer

Manchester City completed the signing of Marc Guehi in the January transfer window but he will not be available to face Newcastle

Manchester City reaped the benefits of a Carabao Cup rule change for their semi-final with Newcastle this season. For the first time, players were allowed to represent more than one team in the competition if they moved during it.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe voiced his unhappiness at this ahead of the first leg last month and had even more reason to grumble after the game. City's £62.5m signing Antoine Semenyo scored one (and had another controversially ruled out) while Max Alleyne, who attracted significantly fewer complains, kept a clean sheet after returning from Watford to help gives the Blues a priceless 2-0 lead.

City will be looking to close out the victory on Wednesday and complete their first final in the competition since they won it four times in a row between 2018 and 2021. Newcastle have a wretched record at the Etihad and Pep Guardiola will be able to call on Alleyne and Semenyo again.

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He will not, however, be able to pick Marc Guehi following his £20m move from Crystal Palace. Despite the rules having been changed this season, there was a time restriction that meant players had to be available for their second club before the first leg of the semi-final.

Given that Guehi did not join City until after they had played Newcastle, he is not eligible to feature in the second leg. Should the Blues make it to the final at Wembley, Guehi again will have to sit it out despite Semenyo and Alleyne being eligible for selection.

Sverre Nypan will be eligible to play for the Blues after returning from loan at Middlesbrough. City cut short his season-long deal due to a lack of playing time and will keep him around Guardiola's squad training with the option of minutes in games. While it is unlikely he will be thrown straight into action against Newcastle, he is eligible on the basis that he did not feature for Middlesbrough in the competition.