Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca just dropped some news that has the Blue half of Manchester absolutely fired up: injured stars Nico O’Reilly and Jeremy Doku could be back on the pitch *real* soon. This isn’t just a regular update; it’s about the biggest game on their schedule this weekend, the Manchester derby.
O’Reilly’s Shocking Quick Return for the Derby
O’Reilly has been a tough miss, especially after he literally pulled out of the starting lineup against Coventry with an injury during the warm-up. Talk about a gut punch right before a match! But now, Maresca sounds pretty confident for the derby. He and Doku both missed training today, and they didn’t even travel with the squad for tomorrow night’s Champions League opener against Porto. Missing that European clash stings, no doubt. But the big whisper is that O’Reilly could be back for the trip to Old Trafford this weekend. Maresca himself hinted, saying, “Nico probably yes.” That’s the kind of confidence that changes the whole vibe heading into a rivalry game.
Doku’s Slow Climb Back
Now, Jeremy Doku’s situation is a bit more of a question mark, but it’s still positive. He’s been sidelined since the Community Shield final, which was “two or three weeks ago,” according to Maresca. He confirmed Doku hasn’t suffered any setbacks, which is huge! No player wants to hear that dreaded news. Maresca admitted he’s “not sure yet” if Doku will be available for the derby, adding, “We need to wait.” But the key is he’s “back slowly, slowly.” Even if he doesn’t make the derby squad, knowing he’s on the path back, especially without setbacks, is a massive relief for City fans. Imagine having these two flying wingers back to tear apart defenses!
The Manchester derby is this weekend, and with the possibility of O’Reilly hitting the field, and Doku close behind, City’s energy is about to hit another level. Every single match matters, and getting key players back for a rivalry game like this? That’s what you live for. The whole league is going to be watching what happens at Old Trafford.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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