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Goalkeeper Joe Hart is Manchester City’s latest casualty, having suffered a hamstring strain in midweek.
Defenders Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta and Eliaquim Mangala are all ruled out, but David Silva is included in the squad.
Shane Long will lead Southampton’s attack in the absence of suspended top scorer Graziano Pelle and the injured Jay Rodriguez.
Sadio Mane is expected to play despite carrying an unspecified injury.
Editor’s Note: Manchester City haven’t won in 3 matches in all competitions and now find themselves 3rd in the Premier League. It’s not quite a crisis at The Etihad but another slip up tomorrow and they could find themselves outside the Top 4 if other results go against them this weekend.
They were made to look very ordinary last Saturday against a Liverpool side who picked up another major scalp on their Premier League travels this season. The blue half of Manchester have got more defensive worries with now Joe Hart and Eliaquim Mangala also out through injury (although in terms of Mangala after his performance last weekend that isn’t necessarily a bad thing)
For all their defensive absentees they will no doubt welcome the return of David Silva to the matchday squad. Is he man to get City out of this mini slump as they face a Southampton side who lost their first game in 7 matches last weekend at home to Stoke
The Saints looked a bit off the pace last Saturday as they lost to Stoke and will look to give a better account of themselves at The Etihad. Whether they can or not depends if they can capitalise on City’s potential defensive frailties but with no Graziano Pelle this could be a sizeable task.
For all of City’s defensive absentees I think they will have too much going forward tomorrow and that will be enough for all 3 points and end this mini slump.
