Haaland fit as City carry Leipzig momentum into Nottingham Forest clash with one long-term absentee

Manchester City head to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, looking to build on Wednesday’s Champions League victory over RB Leipzig in Germany — a match in which Erling Haaland scored the decisive goal to seal a comeback win and push City into the top eight of the competition.

The travelling side enter the fixture in reasonable health. Manager Enzo Maresca has only one long-term absentee to contend with, though he did flag a note of caution over midfielder Nico O’Reilly ahead of the game.

O’Reilly completed 90 minutes against Leipzig but was left out of the England squad for the upcoming international break. Maresca attributed the omission to a persistent back problem that has troubled the midfielder since pre-season.

“With Nico, it’s quite easy. Since we started the season, you know, with his back, if you remember before the Coventry game, some more problems,” Maresca said at Friday’s press conference. “Unfortunately, he is not 100%. In the last game, I really like him — I think he was playing a very good game. This is what we need from Nico, just keep him fit because we know how good he is, and no doubt that in the future he’ll again be with the international team.”

Maresca added that the break will give O’Reilly time to focus on therapy and recovery, with the aim of having him fully fit after the international window. His potential return date is listed as the November 7 fixture against Nottingham Forest.

The squad’s sole long-term absentee is forward Antoine Semenyo, who sustained a leg injury and was confirmed as a significant concern by Maresca last month. Semenyo is not expected back until December, ahead of the busy Christmas fixture schedule.

Maresca praised the overall depth of his squad at Friday’s media briefing, suggesting the injury situation is relatively manageable as City look to enter the international break on the back of a positive result.