Nico and Reis handed debuts as City make eight changes | OneFootball

January signings Nico and Vitor Reis will make their City debuts against Leyton Orient as Pep Guardiola makes eight changes from the side beaten at Arsenal.

Nico is expected to to take on the anchor midfield role while Brazilian defender Reis will slot in at right-back.

Ruben Dias makes a welcome return after coming off at half-time against PSG last month, and there are recalls for youngsters Nico O'Reilly, James McAtee and Rico Lewis.

Jack Grealish and Ilkay Gundogan add much-needed experience to the starting XI, with Stefan Ortega Moreno, Savinho and Omar Marmoush all retaining their places after last weekend's loss at the Emirates.

There is plenty of talent on the bench, should the Blues need it, with Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, John Stones and Bernardo among the subs.

Erling Haaland gets a welcome rest day - no doubt much to the disappointment of the Orient fans.

Line-ups

CITY: Ortega Moreno, Lewis, Reis, Dias (C), O’Reilly, Nico, Gundogan, McAtee, Savio, Grealish, Marmoush

Subs: Carson, Stones, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Akanji, Nunes, Khusanov, Foden, Mubama

LEYTON ORIENT: To follow...

WATCH: Watch: Memorable moments in the FA Cup fourth round

LIKELY FORMATION

Ortega Moreno will have Dias and O'Reilly in central defence, with Lewis and Reis as left and right full-backs respectively.

Expect Nico to take the holding midfield role, with Gundogan and McAtee completing the central trio.

Savinho (right) and Grealish (left) will flank Marmoush who will get his first outing at centre forward.

So, 4-3-3 in all likelihood.

City's injury woes clearing up - finally?

Though Ederson, Nathan Ake, Jeremy Doku and Oscar Bobb are not quite ready to return this afternoon, they have all returned to training which is a huge boost for the Blues.

Pep Guardiola has decided not to risk the above quartet, while resting Haaland, Kovacic and Gvardiol completely.

With a huge game against Real Madrid on Tuesday to come, the City boss will hope the team he has selected for today's FA Cup clash in East London will be able to negate their way into the last 16.

And if he can pick a largely rested starting XI against Madrid, Pep will be a happy man given Real take part in the Madrid derby this evening against Atletico - hardly a game Carlo Ancelotti can afford to rest star names.

WATCH: Watch: Goal posts with Jack Grealish

Mcatee & co chance to impress

James McAtee shone in the last round against Salford, netting a hat-trick in our 8-0 win.

The young playmaker knows he has to grasp his opportunities when they come along - as do O'Reilly and Reis and Lewis.

But this is also a chance for Grealish to shine and stake a claim for more game-time.

Jack was impressive against Salford in the last round and gave a fine cameo against PSG, too.

Today, as one of the senior pros, he will be expected to be one of our leaders in what is a tricky test.

Stats and facts

This is Leyton Orient’s first meeting with City since a 2-2 draw in the second tier in May 1966, while it’s the first time they’re facing the reigning English champions since March 1972 (a 0-1 loss to Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-final

City have won both of their previous FA Cup meetings with Leyton Orient, winning 4-1 in January 1920 (first round) and 6-1 in March 1926 (quarter-final).

This is Leyton Orient’s first appearance in the FA Cup fourth round since 2010-11, when they won 2-1 at Swansea under Russell Slade. A 17-year-old Harry Kane was an unused substitute in the match.

Since losing 1-0 to Wigan Athletic in a fifth round tie in February 2018, City have won their last 17 FA Cup matches against teams from a lower division by an aggregate score of 67-8. It is the longest ever winning run by a top-flight team against sides from lower divisions, with their 8-0 win over Salford City in the third round overtaking Arsenal’s 16-game run between 1998 and 2005.

City’s Jérémy Doku has been involved in six goals in seven matches in the FA Cup (4 goals, 2 assists), averaging a goal or assist every 55 minutes in the competition