Manchester City will look to go back to winning ways following three straight draws in the Premier League when hosting Exeter City in the FA Cup.
The start of 2026 hasn’t been kind to the Citizens. They drew 0-0 against Sunderland on New Year’s Day before going ahead and conceding an equaliser both vs Chelsea and Brighton.
Now though, they are set to host League One side Exeter City at Etihad Stadium this Saturday. Former Celtic and Wigan centre-back Gary Caldwell has them 14th in the league table. They employ lower league veterans such as Josh Magennis and Kevin McDonald.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s men are second in the Premier League – but five points off Arsenal, who have a game in hand. Aston Villa are close to them sitting third with the same 43 points.
Manchester City predicted lineup vs Exeter City
Manchester City (4-1-4-1): Trafford; Lewis, Khusanov, Alleyne, Ake; Gonzalez; McAidoo, Cherki, Gray, Heskey; Mukasa.
Considering that Man City played last Wednesday and Guardiola used basically every available first-team player he has at his disposal and they will have a trip to Newcastle for the Carabao Cup semifinal three days after hosting Exeter, this feels like the perfect opportunity to rotate the squad.
A few Premier League sides had the bad luck to face fellow top-flight teams, such as Everton and Sunderland, Newcastle and Bournemouth, Tottenham and Aston Villa, Manchester United and Brighton.
But Man City struck gold in this regard, set to face a third-tier side at home. A heavily alternate City team had no trouble dispatching Brentford in the league cup a few weeks ago. Could be the same against Exeter.
Manchester City team news vs Exeter City
The turn of the year has also seen Pep Guardiola lose quite a few key players to injuries.
Man City were already without Mateo Kovacic and John Stones long term, also being aware that Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush would depart for international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
But recently, starting centre-back duo Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol went down with injuries, with wingers Oscar Bobb and Savinho joining them. All of this has cut their squad short, since reserve defenders now have to be starters and they have no first-team wingers to deploy easily against lesser opponents.
This means that youngsters Ryan McAidoo and Reigan Heskey, who were both unused substitutes last time out against Brighton, could receive an opportunity here.
Divine Mukasa could start again in a cup tie, as he did in the previous three rounds of the Carabao Cup, against Brentford, Swansea and Huddersfield.
So could Charlie Gray, but there is a chance Guardiola goes with one of Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden or Tijjani Reijnders for the starting XI against Exeter City and then rests him vs Newcastle.
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Opportunity in chaos
Manchester City’s injury crisis is obviously a negative thing for them to deal with. But it does open doors for youngsters who want to prove themselves as reliable options for squad rotation.
Max Alleyne was playing for Watford on loan until January 4th. Three days later he started a Premier League game at the Etihad in the heart of the Citizens’ defence, alongside Abdukodir Khusanov. He put in a great performance and is likely to receive more game time going forward.
The same could happen to any other academy player who features mostly for their Under 21s. Divine Mukasa has played in each cup round City have played so far this season – in three different positions. He could be next up in line as versatility is key for Guardiola’s current system.