Crystal Palace vs Manchester City: Kevin De Bruyne and Nicolas Otamendi poised to make debuts but David Silva ruled out with injury
£90m duo included in squad to face the Eagles but City will be without Silva after he suffered an ankle injury
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Your support makes all the difference.Kevin De Bruyne is poised to make his Manchester City along with Nicolas Otamendi after their respective summer transfer, but the Premier League leaders will be without influential midfielder David Silva for the trip to second-placed Crystal Palace this Saturday.
Silva has been ruled out of the Selhurst Park encounter by City manager Manuel Pellegrini after suffering an ankle injury during Spain’s 1-0 Euro 2016 qualifier victory over Macedonia in midweek.
With the 29-year-old ruled out, it gives Pellegrini a simple decision should he wish to hand De Bruyne his first start since completing his £55m move from Wolfsburg last month. De Bruyne has been tipped to replace Jesus Navas on the right, but with Silva absent the Belgium international looks certain to be deployed in a central role behind striker Sergio Aguero.
While the blow will keep him out of the weekend’s action, Silva is expected to be fit for Tuesday’s Champions League opener with Juventus.
Another to be ruled out through injury is England midfielder Fabian Delph after he suffered a recurrence of the hamstring injury that has hampered the start to his City career.
Delph picked up the original injury in the opening game of the season against West Brom, but having returned as a substitute in the 2-0 victory over Watford a fortnight ago, the midfielder broke down just nine seconds into England’s midweek win over Switzerland and has been ruled out by Pellegrini for around six weeks.
Full-backs Pablo Zabaleta and Gael Clichy remain sidelined with ankle and knee injuries respectively, but Bacary Sagna has passed a late fitness test after he returned from France duty with an ankle knock of his own.
Absent midfielder Fernando wasn't expected to return until next weekend, but after declaring himself free of pain Pellegrini has included the Brazilian in the squad ahead of schedule.
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