Even though they have been missing their best player for nearly the whole season, Manchester City is still only two points behind the leaders.

Pep Guardiola has also had to deal with injuries to other important players in his small group. Mateo Kovacic, John Stones, and Jack Grealish were all injured at one point, and it was occasionally impossible to name a full bench because there were usually two goalkeepers available.

Others intervened and displayed poise; Jeremy Doku is currently vying with Grealish for his position. Another set of fresh legs, Matheus Nunes has given a team that won the Treble last season a renewed sense of purpose.

When De Bruyne rejoins the action, though, maybe neither of the new lads will make it into City’s starting lineup. 13 of Erling Haaland’s 52 goals from the previous season were assisted by De Bruyne, who is likely to always be the starting center striker.

In the Belgian’s absence, Julian Alvarez has performed admirably in the striker’s place, but nobody can get past the No. 17, and it’s unclear where else he would slot in. It didn’t work when he was deployed on the right against Arsenal, and it doesn’t seem possible that Guardiola would start two attacking midfield players.

The incorrigible Bernardo Silva has seldom faltered in performance, reaching his zenith in the latter stages of the previous campaign. Phil Foden will be on the left if he starts from the right.

Cutting in from the flank, he skillfully dovetailed with Alvarez behind Haaland, as if Guardiola had given him the order to do so. Although Foden prefers to play at number 10, he won’t be able to do so after De Bruyne returns if he can’t have a respite there while the playmaker is out.

Though Grealish might be the one to go aside given his lackluster performance thus far this season, he is simply too excellent to let go. Watch this space, as the England player frequently rebounds from adversity to deliver at his best; nevertheless, he must first regain his left-wing position.

Kovacic has been a great addition to Rodri in the foundation of the midfield and appears to have been at City for a long time. Given that De Bruyne is out due to injury, the latter is City’s most crucial player. This is demonstrated by the fact that the team lost the three games he missed while serving his red card suspension.

Right-back Kyle Walker, the team’s current captain, is under lockdown, while Ruben Dias and John Stones are the first-choice center-backs. More discussion is found at left-back. Both Manu Akanji and Nathan Ake have performed incredibly well in the part, but overall, Josko Gvardiol looks to be the better option.

More so than Ake or Akanji, the summer acquisition has demonstrated his threat going forward and his ability to switch to a full-back when needed. Although Ederson occasionally gives Guardiola heart palpitations, his spot on the team may be the most safe.