O'Reilly injury forces late change as Fernandez starts for Man City against Coventry

Nico O’Reilly was ruled out of Manchester City’s Premier League fixture against Coventry City on Saturday before the match had even begun, after the 21-year-old picked up a knock during the warm-up at the Etihad Stadium. Record signing Enzo Fernandez was promoted from the bench into the starting XI as a direct replacement.

O’Reilly had been named to start what would have been his third consecutive game in midfield this season, having established himself as one of City’s most promising young players. The Englishman won the PFA Young Player of the Year award last season and represented England at the World Cup, with much of his standout form coming at left back.

Fernandez, who completed a £125 million move from Chelsea on deadline day, had initially been listed among the substitutes. His fellow deadline-day arrival Iliman Ndiaye started on the left flank, while Ayyoub Bouaddi — who made his debut off the bench against Crystal Palace — was named among the subs. Winger Allan, signed from Brazilian club Palmeiras, was absent from the squad entirely due to a fitness issue.

City went into the Coventry game on the back of successive Premier League wins over Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, and the O’Reilly setback arrives at a particularly demanding moment in their schedule. The Blues open their Champions League campaign on Tuesday away to Porto in Portugal, a fixture O’Reilly is now a significant doubt for.

Enzo Maresca’s side then travel to Old Trafford for the first Manchester derby of the season on Sunday, 13 September — another game where O’Reilly’s availability will be closely monitored. The club has not yet confirmed the nature or severity of the injury.