Man City missing three players for Aston Villa game as Nico Gonzalez injury update emerges

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Manchester City head to Villa Park missing a number of players as they look to improve on recent performances there

Manchester City will not welcome any injured players back to their squad to face Aston Villa as doubts remain over Nico Gonzalez.

Gonzalez was taken off in the 2-0 win over Villarreal in midweek with a foot injury after he couldn't shake off the impact of a foul by Thomas Partey. The 23-year-old did not look in too much discomfort as he left the stadium, but still requires checks over the next days to determine his fitness.

That injury is more problematic for City because Rodri is missing with the hamstring issue he suffered at Brentford. Rodri had hoped to return in time for the Everton game but Villa will be the third game he misses with the problem, with no date put on his return.

Pep Guardiola said on Friday that Rayan Ait-Nouri and Abdukodir Khusanov will also remain sidelined. The pair have both missed over a month with injuries they picked up for City; Ait-Nouri has returned to training but Khusanov is still not.

City's manager said that Khusanov was close, but like Ait-Nouri and Rodri he will not be travelling to Villa Park. Guardiola is hopeful though that City can put up a better show in the Midlands this season after a defeat last year that was one of the low points of their slump amid an injury crisis.

"They were much better than us the last two fixtures we played at Villa Park. Hopefully it will be different on Sunday," he said. The admiration I have for Unai is so high. He's incredibly consistent, well prepared and so smart.

"At Aston Villa I know they are not in the Champions League this season for one point. Last season for me they were Champions League [quality], they created a lot of problems for the champions PSG.

"They are well organised, quality, one of the toughest away games we have in the season. Defensively they are really good, from set pieces also and I have the feeling he improved a lot in terms of the build up. With the keeper they have it is so difficult to control the pressing and they bring a lot of players in the middle.

"The connection between them is really good, they break the lines with the strikers and when that happens they are so quick, attacking quick with the speed they have up front. The physicality is really good.

"Pre-season is over, the season sometimes you start slowly in terms of results but they have done a lot in the Premier League that has been really good."

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