(Manuel Pellegrini and Steve Bruce will meet for the first time February on Tuesday evening - image via www.dailystar.co.uk)
Despite dismissing his most recent injury as 'a harmless bump', Sergio Agüero is unlikely to be risked after limping off with an ankle problem in City's 3-1 win over Southampton last weekend. Wilfried Bony shrugged off a hamstring problem to replace the Argentine and is likely to start.
A place in the no.10 role behind him, however, is up for grabs. Yaya Touré, Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Kelechi Iheanacho are the options available to Manuel Pellegrini and the Chilean must take rest, player development and game time into account when making his decision.
Yaya Touré
The Ivorian has been criticised for a number of lethargic displays this season in which his defensive shortcomings have been ruthlessly exposed. For that reason, City can't afford to play Touré in a two-man midfield; but they can't afford to remove his attacking qualities either.
With Fabian Delph and Fernando expected to start, Touré could be moved into a more attacking role where defending won't be on his list of responsibilities. Most City supporters agree that this is the best place for the 32-year-old, and given he's started in 19 of City's 20 fixtures this term, he could be chosen to operate behind Bony on Tuesday.
Kevin De Bruyne
Jesus Navas, a favourite of Pellegrini's, played no part in Saturday's win and will surely make a return to the starting eleven. And with Raheem Sterling in need of a confidence boost, City's Player of the Month for October could be moved into the centre.
In 17 games for the Blues, the Belgian has an impressive seven goals and eight assists, but the 24-year-old could be rested ahead of Saturday's tie against Stoke City to make way for either David Silva or Kelechi Iheanacho.
David Silva
(David Silva made a return from injury against Southampton on Saturday - image via Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
The standing ovation the Spaniard received as he returned to the Etihad Stadium after a six-week lay-off goes some way to explaining how delighted City fans are to see David Silva back in the squad. The 29-year-old last appeared in the 6-1 win over Newcastle United at the beginning of October - he made two assists - and Pellegrini's side have missed his creativity since.
With a challenging Christmas run facing the Blues, including games against Arsenal and Leicester City, Pellegrini will be keen to restore his key man to full fitness as soon as possible.
Kelechi Iheanacho
The early-season hype surrounding City's 19-year-old striker has faded. After netting a last minute winner against Crystal Palace in September and putting in a destructive performance against the same opposition six weeks later in the 4th round of the Capital One Cup, Kelechi Iheanacho has been handed only 84 minutes to shine out of a potential 270.
Substituted just 10 minutes into the second half against Norwich City last month, Iheanacho fell behind Wilfried Bony and Sergio Agüero in the pecking order and was an unused substitute against Aston Villa despite being the only striker in the squad when Bony limped off with a hamstring problem. The snub angered supporters who questioned Pellegrini's faith in the youngster.
Defending his decision, Pellegrini insisted that "He’s [Iheanacho] not a striker. Normally he plays behind the striker.”After impressing in the last round, the Nigerian will be hoping the manager backs up those words by starting him behind Bony against Hull.
