Pep Guardiola may have to call on Manchester City youngsters for Hoffenheim clash

Pep Guardiola may have to call on Manchester City youngsters Adrian Bernabe, Claudio Gomes and Eric Garcia as club’s injury toll worsens ahead of Hoffenheim clash

  • Pep Guardiola may be forced to play a handful of Manchester City youngsters
  • The Premier League champions have just 15 fit senior players to play Hoffenheim
  • Adrian Bernabe, Claudio Gomes and Eric Garcia could all be in contention

Pep Guardiola may be forced to give a handful of Manchester City youngsters a major opportunity to impress in their Champions League game against Hoffenheim on Wednesday night.

The reigning Premier League champions are suffering an injury crisis and only have 15 fit senior players available for the European clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Midfield star David Silva has become the latest addition to an injury list that already includes Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne, Benjamin Mendy and Claudio Bravo.  

Pep Guardiola may be forced to play some Manchester City youngsters against Hoffenheim

Claudio Gomes is a defensive midfielder, formerly of Paris Saint-Germain who has impressed

Claudio Gomes is a defensive midfielder, formerly of Paris Saint-Germain who has impressed

Guardiola has also spoken very highly of former Barcelona defender Eric Garcia

Guardiola has also spoken very highly of former Barcelona defender Eric Garcia

Full-back Danilo is also sidelined but Aguero, who has missed the last three games with a groin problem, could return to face Everton at the weekend.

The crisis has placed serious strain on the limited options Guardiola has available and could mean he looks towards the academy to fill some places.

It appears there may be some largely unfamiliar names on the team sheet against the Bundesliga side with the likes of Adrian Bernabe and Claudio Gomes discussed as possible options off the bench.

Guardiola has also spoken very highly of young trio Eric Garcia, Luke Bolton and Felix Nmecha in recent weeks.

Bernabe signed from Barcelona in the summer and was part of the pre-season tour of the US, playing against Bayern Munich and impressing. He is an attacking midfielder with composed technical ability.

Felix Nmecha was born in Germany, grew up in England and has played for the Three Lions

Felix Nmecha was born in Germany, grew up in England and has played for the Three Lions

Luke Bolton was one of the breakthrough talents of Manchester City's summer tour of the US

Luke Bolton was one of the breakthrough talents of Manchester City’s summer tour of the US

Gomes, an 18-year-old French defensive midfielder who was previously with Paris Saint Germain, is quick, strong and an excellent tackler. He could provide cover for Fernandinho, given City are short of options at the base of midfield. 

Meanwhile, Garcia and Lukas Nmecha’s younger brother Felix have caught the manager’s attention in the past.

Guardiola said: ‘It is not easy to play in the big clubs like Man City. You know my opinion of the competition they play in the second team so it’s a little bit complicated but in pre-season we saw them.

‘Eric Garcia played amazing in pre-season and Felix Nmecha is a guy who has a good perspective too. Today Adria played some minutes.

‘It depends on them but if they have quality in some moments they can show us they can play.’   

Bolton was one of the breakthrough talents of Manchester City’s pre-season tour of the US.

MANCHESTER CITY’S KIDS 

Name: Adrian Bernabe

Age: 17

Position: Midfield

Nationality: Spanish 

Name: Claudio Gomes

Age: 18

Position: Midfield

Nationality: French 

Name: Eric Garcia

Age: 17

Position: Defender

Nationality: Spanish 

Name: Luke Bolton

Age: 19

Position: Forward

Nationality: English 

Name: Felix Nmecha

Age: 18

Position: Midfield

Nationality: Born in Germany, represented England 

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