Erling Haaland has been included in Manchester City's starting lineup for this afternoon's Premier League clash against Brentford at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola revealed at his pre-match press conference on Friday that Haaland's physical and mental state will be assessed ahead of kickoff following of the sad passing of his close family friend Ivar Eggja earlier this week.
Haaland has taken part in first-team training this week since returning from international city with Norway and has been named in City's starting lineup, just over 24 hours after being voted as the Premier League Player of the Month for August.
The 24-year-old, who scored seven goals in just three games last month, is one of seven players who retain his place in the Citizens side that beat West Ham United 3-1 prior to the international break, while Guardiola has opted to make four alterations.
Captain Kyle Walker and John Stones are handed their first starts of the season, joining Manuel Akanji and Rico Lewis in defence, the latter moving over from right-back to left back. Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol drop down to the substitutes' bench.
Ilkay Gundogan is also handed his first start for the Citizens since re-joining the club from Barcelona in the summer and will partner Mateo Kovacic in midfield.
Bernardo Silva has made way for Gundogan, while Rodri is kept in reserve once again despite playing 59 minutes for Spain during the international break. Phil Foden is also on the bench after recovering from illness which kept him out of the win versus West Ham.
Summer signing Savinho is the final player to be recalled by Guardiola; he replaces Jeremy Doku and will be joined in attack by Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Haaland.
© Brentford FC
As for Brentford, Thomas Frank has made two changes to the side that beat Southampton 3-1 in their most recent match prior to the international break.
Summer signing Sepp van den Berg is handed his first start for the Bees and Keane Lewis-Potter also comes into the team, while Kevin Schade drops to the substitutes' bench and Mathias Jensen is not involved due to injury.
It remains to be seen whether Brentford will line up with a four-man defence or three-at-the-back system. Operating with the latter setup could see either Van den Berg or Kristoffer Ajer play at right wing-back with Lewis-Potter on the opposite flank.
Bryan Mbeumo has scored three goals in as many games for the Bees so far this season and will lead the line once again alongside Yoane Wissa, who has two goals to his name.
Manchester City starting lineup: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Akanji, Lewis; Gundogan, Kovacic; Savinho, De Bruyne, Grealish, Haaland
Subs: Ortega, Dias, Doku, Rodri, Bernardo, Gvardiol, Nunes, Foden, McAtee
Brentford starting lineup: Flekken; Van den Berg, Pinnock, Collins; Ajer, Janelt, Norgaard, Damsgaard, Lewis-Potter; Wissa, Mbeumo
Subs: Valdimarsson, Schade, Carvalho, Mee, Yarmoliuk, Meghoma, Konak, Trevitt, Roerslev
Oliver Thomas
![Manchester City forward Erling Haaland (9) during warmups before the FC Series match between Manchester City and Celtic at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, July 23, 2024 [on July 25, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/11/29/1x1.gif?w=1&h=1 "Manchester City forward Erling Haaland (9) during warmups before the FC Series match between Manchester City and Celtic at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, July 23, 2024 [on July 25, 2024]")
