Man City line-up vs Exeter City predicted as Antoine Semenyo decision made and Rodri starts

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said he will field a largely strong squad for the FA Cup third round tie with League One side Exeter City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will only field a sprinkling of academy players for the FA Cup third round tie with League One side Exeter City as he vowed to field a strong side. City have drawn their last three matches in the Premier League and are now six points behind leaders Arsenal and dealing with a significant number of injuries.

The Blues have a Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Newcastle United to come on Tuesday and a Manchester derby at Old Trafford next weekend. With several players looking jaded, the tie with the third tier Grecians offers a chance for Guardiola to rest several stars but the manager insisted he would not be stacking the side with youngsters. "No. A few of them but not much," he said. "We have to come back to winning games and the FA Cup is the FA Cup."

Guardiola will start fringe players James Trafford and Rico Lewis while Max Alleyne, fresh from an encouraging debut against Brighton in midweek, could again partner Abdukodir Khusanov in the middle of the backline. Stephen Mfuni could come in at left back given Rayan Ait-Nouri is away at the Africa Cup of Nations and Nico O'Reilly has looked tired in recent weeks.

Guardiola's pledge to play senior stars means Rodri could be handed a surprise start in midfield. He came off the bench in midweek and would offer leadership in the middle of the park. Rayan Cherki was another who came off the bench against Brighton and could be handed a start against Exeter with Tijjani Reijnders making up the midfield three. Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden are likely candidates to be rested.

Erling Haaland also seems set to be given the afternoon off and young prospects Divine Mukasa and Reigan Heskey could be given the opportunity to impress. Antoine Semenyo, fresh from his £62.5million move from Bournemouth, could go straight into the side given Guardiola bracketed the 26-year-old with Jeremy Doku, Savinho and Oscar Bobb in competition for places. The latter two are sidelined and the former started against Brighton and is only just back to full fitness.

Predicted City XI: Trafford, Lewis, Alleyne, Khusanov, Mfuni; Rodri, Reijnders; Semenyo, Cherki, Mukasa, R Heskey