Haaland - who was spotted limping heavily after the win over Ipswich last weekend - and Marc Guehi were both handed a much-needed rest, while several other regular members of the squad were left out due to injury.
Nico O’Reilly, Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic all played no part as they recover from their own respective knocks picked up in quick succession against Ipswich.
"Erling is the only one 100 per cent available,” he explained, before adding of Nunes, Kovacic and O’Reilly: “We have a session this afternoon. They can be all available or not. Yesterday they were all improving, and we'll see this afternoon.”
It remains to be seen, then, how Maresca’s team might shape up in the Midlands. Josko Gvardiol started against AEK Athens in O’Reilly’s absence and should keep his place at left-back, with Maresca playing down the knock the Croat appeared to pick up late on in that match.
All smiles: Erling Haaland has trained fully before Manchester City travel to Aston Villa
Getty
With Nunes potentially still injured, Rayan Ait-Nouri could be in line for a rare start on the right of defence.
Elsewhere, Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez will continue to hold down the base of midfield.
Behind him, Phil Foden may well keep his place in the No10 role after his Wednesday night hat-trick, though Rayan Cherki is also due to come back into the side.
Predicted Man City XI vs Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Ait-Nouri, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Fernandez, Anderson; Foden, Cherki, Ndiaye; Haaland
Doubts: O’Reilly, Nunes, Kovacic
Injured: Semenyo
Time and date: 12.30pm BST on Saturday October 24, 2026
Venue: Villa Park
How to watch: TNT Sports