Man City line-up vs Fulham predicted as Phil Foden decision made amid Erling Haaland injury clarity

Manchester City return to Premier League action on Saturday when Fulham visit the Etihad.

The Blues cantered to a 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League on Tuesday night and remain unbeaten this season. But last weekend's 1-1 draw at Newcastle United means Pep Guardiola's have dropped to second in the Premier League with Liverpool the early leaders.

City will be confident of getting back to winning ways in the league when Fulham visit but the Cottagers will provide a stern test after an encouraging start to the campaign which sees them sixth, three points behind the Blues. Guardiola made changes in midweek and will likely rotate once again in the final game before the October international break.

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Ederson will come back in goal in place of Stefan Ortega while Kyle Walker will likely return at right back having sat out the trip to Slovakia. Ruben Dias is another likely to return and Josko Gvardiol will continue on the left.

It's in midfield where the interesting calls will be made. Mateo Kovacic seems set to start in the middle and Rico Lewis' form is so strong that he can't really be left out. And, after impressing in midweek, Phil Foden surely merits a first league start of the campaign as he seeks to continue to improve after illness and a lengthy summer of international football. Guardiola spoke of his encouragement at what he had seen from Foden and with the internationals to come, now seems a good time to pick the playmaker from the beginning.

Up top, Erling Haaland had been something of an injury doubt ahead of the trip to Bratislava but started and scored before being replaced early in the second half. Guardiola spoke of the knock the Norwegian picked up at Newcastle but it is not expected to prevent him leading the line against Fulham. Jack Grealish caught the eye at Newcastle and could return while Bernardo Silva will complete the XI.

City predicted XI; Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Lewis, Kovacic, Foden; Bernardo, Grealish, Haaland