Overview

• The £62.5m forward shared an exercise-bike photo with the caption “The time is flying,” a positive sign that stops short of confirming his readiness for September 14 at the Etihad.
• Cunha left the 3-2 win over Burnley with a suspected hamstring issue and subsequently withdrew from Brazil’s World Cup qualifying squad.
• Manager Ruben Amorim said he was concerned about injuries to Cunha and Mason Mount and stressed that both require further checks.
• Mount completed the first half against Burnley while carrying an injury, and his status for the derby remains uncertain.
• Diogo Dalot pulled out of Portugal duty with muscle discomfort, and long-term absentee Lisandro Martinez is back on the grass but is unlikely to go straight into the starting lineup.