Manchester City Faces Double Blow Ahead of Porto Clash

Manchester City will launch their UEFA Champions League campaign at the Estádio do Dragão tomorrow night without two members of Enzo Maresca’s squad, as Jeremy Doku and Nico O'Reilly have both been ruled out of the clash with FC Porto.

Double blow before Porto opener

City held an open training session earlier today, a final public look at Maresca’s preparations before flying to Portugal. Two absences stood out immediately. Doku and O'Reilly were nowhere to be seen.

For Doku, the wait goes on. The winger is still recovering from the calf injury he picked up against Arsenal in the FA Community Shield three weeks ago, a setback that has already kept him out of domestic action. The Porto game comes too soon, and City will have to find their attacking spark from elsewhere.

O'Reilly’s issue is more recent. The youngster suffered a back injury during the warm-up ahead of City’s 1-0 win over Coventry City on Saturday, cutting short his involvement before the match had even started. That problem has now cost him a place on the European trip as well.

Squad confirmed, duo left at home

Any lingering doubt over their availability disappeared when the travelling squad for Porto was confirmed. Doku’s name was missing. So was O'Reilly’s.

For a City side handed a demanding league-phase draw, the opener in Portugal already carries weight. They go into it without two options in Maresca’s armoury, and with no late surprise returns on the plane.