Manchester City head into their Champions League opener against Porto with a largely positive start to the 2026/27 campaign, but Enzo Maresca still has a couple of injury concerns to manage.
City have won all three of their Premier League matches so far under their new head coach. However, the trip to Porto brings another challenge, and the latest Manchester City injury news will be closely watched by supporters.
Jeremy Doku remains unavailable, while Nico O’Reilly has now joined the injury list after suffering a problem during the warm-up against Coventry City.
The good news for Maresca is that Manchester City have no suspended players ahead of the Champions League clash.
Jeremy Doku remains sidelined for Manchester City
Jeremy Doku is the most notable absentee for Manchester City ahead of the trip to Porto.
The Belgian winger is still recovering from a calf problem that he aggravated during City’s Community Shield defeat to Arsenal.
Maresca previously indicated that Doku could be out for around two to three weeks. That timeframe means the Porto match is expected to come too soon for the winger.
Doku has already missed Manchester City’s Premier League victories over Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Coventry City.
His absence is significant because of the qualities he offers in one-on-one situations.
The winger can stretch opposition defences, attack space and create chances from wide areas. His ability to beat defenders can also give City’s central players more room to operate.
However, Maresca has managed without him during the opening weeks of the season.
Manchester City have continued to collect results, suggesting that the squad has enough attacking depth to cope with Doku’s absence.
The latest indication is that Doku could potentially return for the Manchester derby against Manchester United on September 13.
That would give City supporters a major boost if the Belgian is able to recover fully and avoid another setback.
Nico O’Reilly suffers a new injury setback
Nico O’Reilly is another player who is expected to miss the Porto game.
The 21-year-old suffered a lower back injury during the warm-up before Manchester City’s Premier League match against Coventry.
O’Reilly reportedly left the warm-up early while holding his back. That forced Maresca to make a late adjustment to his starting XI.
The timing was particularly unfortunate.
O’Reilly had been included in the team, but his injury meant that City had to change their plans shortly before kick-off.
Unlike Doku, there is currently no specific return date for O’Reilly.
That uncertainty could be frustrating for both the player and Maresca.
The Champions League campaign will place additional demands on City’s squad, with European fixtures now being added to an already busy domestic schedule.
O’Reilly’s versatility makes him particularly useful in that situation. His ability to operate in defensive positions gives Maresca another option when rotating his squad.
For now, however, the priority will be ensuring that the injury does not become a longer-term problem.
Manchester City have no suspended players
One positive piece of team news is that Manchester City have no suspended players for the Porto fixture.
That gives Maresca greater freedom when selecting his squad.
With no suspension concerns, the main selection questions are therefore related to fitness, tactical decisions and squad rotation.
That could be important as City begin their Champions League campaign.
Maresca has already shown that he is prepared to make tactical changes depending on the opposition.
The new manager has overseen three consecutive Premier League victories, and City’s early form has created a positive atmosphere around the club.
The Porto match will provide a much stronger test of that progress.
Maresca faces an important squad-management challenge
Manchester City’s early-season schedule means Maresca will need to manage his squad carefully.
The Premier League campaign is only three matches old, but Champions League football now begins.
That creates a different physical and tactical challenge.
City will need their key players available across multiple competitions. Injuries such as Doku’s and O’Reilly’s therefore need to be managed cautiously.
There is little reason for Maresca to rush either player back.
Doku’s potential return for the Manchester derby would be particularly valuable, but only if the winger is fully recovered.
The same applies to O’Reilly.
A premature return could make an injury worse and create a much longer absence.
City supporters will be watching Doku’s return closely
For Manchester City fans, Doku’s recovery is likely to be one of the biggest talking points over the next week.
The winger has become an important attacking option because of his direct style.
His return would give Maresca another way to change games from the bench or provide an alternative in the starting XI.
The possibility of seeing Doku back for the Manchester derby will therefore offer some encouragement.
Until then, City must continue without him.
The early results suggest that Maresca has enough options to deal with the situation. But as the Champions League begins and the fixture schedule becomes more demanding, squad depth will be tested.
Porto presents City’s next major challenge
Manchester City travel to Porto on Tuesday night for their first Champions League match of the season.
The Portuguese side will provide a different challenge from the Premier League opponents City have faced so far.
Maresca will want his team to carry their winning momentum into Europe, while also ensuring that his players remain physically fresh.
With Doku unavailable and O’Reilly facing an uncertain recovery timeline, the manager will need to make the most of the players currently available.
There is, at least, no suspension issue to complicate his plans.
For Manchester City, the immediate objective is clear: start the Champions League campaign strongly.
The latest Manchester City injury news is not ideal, but it is far from a crisis.
Doku remains the main absentee, while O’Reilly’s back injury will be monitored closely.
If both players recover without further complications, Maresca could soon have even more options at his disposal as City prepare for the demanding months ahead.
