“At some point we probably need to give him rest, some days off,” the City head coach said of Haaland at his pre-Ipswich press conference on Friday.
“We are thinking about this not just with Erling because we have players, unfortunately or fortunately, they are playing all the games with us and all the games with the international teams.”
Haaland keeps his place up top against Ipswich, though, as a rest against AEK Athens in the Champions League on Tuesday night now appears more likely.
That said, there are changes behind the striker for City. Rayan Cherki was taken off at half-time against PSG and makes way here, with Phil Foden his replacement after serving a suspension.
History-maker: Erling Haaland broke two Champions League records against PSG
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Iliman Ndiaye made an impact as a second-half substitute against PSG and is rewarded with a start out wide, replacing Antoine Semenyo.
Fortunately for Maresca, he has no fresh injuries to contend with.
Matheus Nunes comes in for Abdukodir Khusanov at right-back, while Josko Gvardiol makes way for Nico O’Reilly on the left.
Gianluigi Donnarumma remains in goal, while the first-choice centre-back partnership of Ruben Dias and Marc Guehi remains intact.
There are further alterations from Maresca in midfield, where Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez are replaced by Ayyoub Bouaddi and Mateo Kovacic.
Man City XI vs Ipswich (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, O’Reilly; Bouaddi, Kovacic; Doku, Foden, Ndiaye; Haaland
Subs: Rulli, Anderson, Cherki, Fernandez, Ait-Nouri, Gvardiol, Allan, Semenyo, Khusanov
Time and date: 3pm BST on Saturday October 17, 2026
Venue: Etihad Stadium