Manchester City have confirmed that Oleksandr Zinchenk is ‘fit and available’ to face FC Porto in Wednesday evening’s Champions League group game. The 23-year-old has recovered from a training ground injury and should make the matchday squad.
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Zinchenko has yet to make an appearance for City this season, but he was an unused substitute in our 5-2 defeat to Leicester City (September 27). The Ukrainian international finds himself behind Benjamin Mendy in the pecking order (5/6 appearances in all competitions) but could get playing time now the Frenchman is injured.
As per The Sun, Mendy has a muscle injury which could keep him out for more than three weeks. He could miss all our upcoming fixtures before the November international break – Porto (October 21), West Ham United (October 24), Olympique Marseille (October 27), Sheffield United (October 31), Olympiacos (November 3), Liverpool (November 7).
In Saturday’s 1-0 win over Arsenal, Pep Guardiola named a three-man defence of Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias and Kyle Walker, with Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez as makeshift wing-backs. With Zinchenko being short of playing time this season, it’s unlikely he’ll start against Porto due to a lack of match fitness. The £18m-rated man will have to be patient for opportunities.
In other news, Manchester City have been given an injury boost with Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva