Nunes injury minor, Ait-Nouri's future uncertain as Man City face Villa

Matheus Nunes is unlikely to face a lengthy absence after picking up what appears to be an ankle or foot problem during Manchester City’s win over Ipswich, with manager Enzo Maresca indicating the injury is not serious. City head to Villa Park on Saturday looking to extend their Premier League winning run to eight games, though they will be without Antoine Semenyo, who has been ruled out for eight weeks.

Nunes was seen flexing his right leg as he left the pitch against Ipswich, possibly aggravating an ankle issue that troubled him earlier in the season. City journalist Simon Bajkowski, who fielded supporter questions this week, noted that Maresca clearly separated Semenyo’s prognosis from the rest of the injured players — placing Nunes in a similar bracket to Erling Haaland, who also missed time recently. If Nunes does not feature against Aston Villa, he is expected to return shortly after.

Rayan Ait-Nouri’s situation looks considerably more precarious. The winger did not even start City’s Europa League fixture against AEK Athens, and Maresca has previously stated he does not view the player as a full-back, which significantly limits his route into the side. With Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki ahead of him in the queue for wide minutes vacated by Semenyo’s injury, Ait-Nouri’s path to regular football at the Etihad appears blocked. A loan move to Manchester United was reportedly discussed in September, and Bajkowski suggested a January or summer departure now looks the most likely outcome.

There is, however, a precedent for a turnaround. Nunes himself was in a similarly marginal position roughly 18 months into his City career before forcing his way back into Maresca’s plans and becoming a key contributor — a reminder that situations can shift quickly in a squad of this depth.

Elsewhere, questions about Rico Lewis’s long-term role in midfield continue to circulate. Lewis produced a match-winning performance against AEK Athens, and there is a school of thought that he could step into a more central role, particularly if Mateo Kovacic’s time at the club draws to a close. Whether Lewis can replicate that level of influence against stronger opposition, and do so consistently enough to justify a permanent positional shift, remains an open question.

All of that, for now, is secondary to Saturday’s trip to Villa Park, where City will look to maintain the momentum that has followed their defeat to Paris Saint-Germain — a result that remains the only blemish on their domestic record this season.