Erling Haaland has been left out of Manchester City’s starting line-up to face AEK Athens in the Champions League as he nurses an injury sustained on the weekend.
Haaland was hurt in a challenge with Jack Clarke during Saturday’s win over Ipswich, during which the Norwegian bagged a brace, seeming to catch the Tractor Boys substitute after kicking the ball in injury time.
Ahead of the trip to Athens, Maresca revealed that Haaland would face a late fitness test to determine whether he could play a part in the match with AEK, with City looking to get back to winning ways in Europe after losing 4-2 to holders Paris Saint-Germain last week.
"He can be available, we will see, we have a session now,” Maresca said on Monday. “We have some doubts after Sunday's game. He was quite good yesterday, better. So we will see today."
However, Haaland has not been deemed ready to start in Tuesday night’s fixture, with 17-year-old Floyd Samba leading the line in his place.
Samba, the son of former Blackburn Rovers defender Christopher Samba, scored twice on his City debut in last month’s 5-0 Carabao Cup win over Norwich and has been entrusted up front ahead of Phil Foden, who was being considered to start in that position after ending a 35-game drought without a goal against Ipswich.
Foden does feature in the starting line-up, though, and looks set to be operated from the left flank. Rayan Cherki starts in behind Samba while summer signing Allan is picked on the right.
Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez are restored to the team after being rested on the weekend, while only Ruben Dias keeps his place from the back-four that faced Ipswich. Rico Lewis, Abdukodir Khusanov and Josko Gvardiol come into the team.
Gianluigi Donnarumma keeps his place in between the sticks.
Antoine Semenyo was already confirmed to miss out with the Ghanaian facing up to eight weeks on the sidelines with a leg injury.