Manchester City have been dealt a significant setback ahead of their trip to St James’ Park, with Pep Guardiola confirming that two influential midfielders will miss the clash against Newcastle United on Saturday evening.
The match, kicking off at 5:30pm, comes at a crucial point in the season as City look to maintain pressure on the league leaders, but they will have to navigate it without Mateo Kovacic and Rodri.
City travel to the North East in strong form after winning four games on the bounce across all competitions. Their most recent outing, a convincing 3-0 victory over Liverpool in the Premier League, showcased the confidence and rhythm they had built before the international break.
That win pushed them into second place in the table, leaving them perfectly placed to chase down Arsenal. Although they cannot move above the Gunners this weekend, securing three points against Newcastle would narrow the gap to just a single point, raising the stakes even higher ahead of Arsenal’s derby against Tottenham on Sunday.
However, Guardiola’s plans have been disrupted by the confirmation that both Kovacic and Rodri are unavailable. Kovacic is sidelined with an ankle injury, while Rodri is dealing with a thigh problem severe enough to have ruled him out of Spain’s recent international fixtures.
Losing two players who play such pivotal roles in controlling midfield tempo and defensive balance is far from ideal, especially when facing a Newcastle side known for their intensity and energy.
Guardiola, speaking on the current condition of his squad, did his best to remain positive while acknowledging the reality of the situation. He explained that everyone else in the squad is fit and available, but Kovacic and Rodri still need more time.
The City boss mentioned that Rodri is progressing well in his recovery, but stressed the importance of giving him enough time to return both mentally and physically, especially with such a demanding schedule awaiting the team.
He emphasised that consistency from this point until the end of the season will be vital, and that rushing players back is not an option.
Even though the campaign is still in its early stages and barely a third of the way through, Guardiola understands that Arsenal’s strong start makes the margin for error extremely small. Beginning the weekend four points behind the league leaders means that every game carries real weight.
Guardiola admitted that winning at St James’ Park is not just important in the short term, but in the bigger picture of their entire season. He spoke openly about the threat Arsenal pose, explaining that in recent seasons they have developed into a side that rarely drops points.
Allowing them to build too much of a lead could make the title race significantly more difficult. That is why he sees Saturday’s match as a key moment, even this early in the campaign.
Guardiola also touched on how the season shifts gears after the first international breaks. With the schedule becoming increasingly packed from now until March, he believes this is when the “real season” begins. Matches come every few days, the physical demands rise, and the top sides must maintain their focus.
For City, reaching March still in a strong position is the priority, and securing a win against Newcastle would help keep them on track.
Manchester City have an impressive recent record at St James’ Park, where they have not suffered a Premier League defeat since 2019. Guardiola also boasts a dominant personal record against Eddie Howe.
Despite the many meetings between the two managers, Howe has never beaten Guardiola in a Premier League match. The only time Howe has managed to get the better of him came in 2023, when Newcastle knocked City out of the Carabao Cup. On that occasion, a goal from Alexander Isak proved decisive in a tight game where both managers heavily rotated due to a congested fixture schedule.
As City prepare for another tough visit to Newcastle, they know that their depth will be tested without two of their most reliable midfielders. But with the title race shaping up to be as tight as ever, they also understand that these are the moments where champions must find solutions and keep moving forward.
