FA Cup

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Attendance: 9,680

FA Cup | Fifth Round

Feb 16, 2019 at 5.30pm UK

Newport Newport County
1-4
Man City Manchester City

Amond (88')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Sane (51'), Foden (75', 89'), Mahrez (94')

How Manchester City could line up against Newport County

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 14 February 2019

Sports Mole looks at how Manchester City could line up for their FA Cup fifth-round clash with League Two Newport County at Rodney Parade.

Manchester City will resume their challenge on all fronts this Saturday when they take on League Two side Newport County at Rodney Parade in the FA Cup fifth round.

City have already mercilessly put lower-league opposition to the sword in cup competitions this season, scoring 20 goals without reply in their four such outings in 2018-19.

It is not just teams from lower divisions that have felt the brunt of the English champions' attacking might, though, with Man City hitting six past Chelsea in a stunning display last time out.

Newport's task looks like a thankless one as they attempt to pull off one of the biggest FA Cup upsets in recent memory, then, and here Sports Mole looks at how Pep Guardiola could line his side up for the match.

Out: Vincent Kompany (muscle), Claudio Bravo (Achilles)
Doubtful: Benjamin Mendy (knee)

> Click here for the latest Man City injury and suspension news

Changes are expected from Guardiola, but he is still able to name a strong side and the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus could all feature.

Fringe players such as Phil Foden and Eric Garcia will also be hopeful of more game time, although £60m summer signing Riyad Mahrez also falls into that category to accentuate the chasm between the two sides.

Guardiola is likely to rest his key players - Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho, Raheem Sterling, David Silva and more - while there could be starts for Danilo, Nicolas Otamendi and Oleksandr Zinchenko in defence, the latter having marked his return to the side with two assists in the rout of Chelsea.

Benjamin Mendy has an outside chance of featuring, although Guardiola is being cautious of his recovery and the full-back is not expected to start even if he is passed fit enough to be in contention.

Arijanet Muric will be hopeful of a rare start in goal, but Guardiola has stuck with Ederson in the FA Cup so far this season whereas Muric has been limited to EFL Cup appearances.