Doku edges closer to first City appearance of the season ahead of Sunderland visit

Jeremy Doku is closing in on his first appearance of the season for Manchester City, with manager Enzo Maresca saying the Belgian winger will “probably” be available for Sunday’s Premier League home game against Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium.

Doku has not featured in a single minute for City this campaign after sustaining a calf injury during the Community Shield. Maresca initially described the problem as minor and put a two-to-three-week recovery window on it, but the 24-year-old has yet to return to action. Speaking after City’s Carabao Cup win over Norwich, Maresca offered his most optimistic update yet. “Probably he can be available for the Sunderland game,” the City boss said.

Should Doku miss Sunday’s fixture, his next opportunity would not come until 11 October, when City travel to Anfield following a three-week international break — a gap that would place him roughly eight weeks from the date of the original injury.

The winger’s international situation adds another layer of uncertainty. Belgium head coach Mark van Bommel is due to name his squad on Friday, and whether Doku is included will serve as a further indicator of his fitness levels ahead of the Sunderland game.

Aside from Doku, Maresca has few other selection concerns. Nico O’Reilly returned to action against Norwich, making his first start since withdrawing from the warm-up before the Coventry match with a back complaint.

City head into Sunday’s game seeking a fifth consecutive Premier League victory, though Maresca has cautioned that Sunderland will represent their stiffest test of the season so far.