John Stones returns to the City starting line-up for today’s Premier League trip to Norwich City as Pep Guardiola makes three changes from the side which beat Brighton last time out.

The central defender comes in for long-term injury victim Aymeric Laporte while Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva are also handed starting roles.

Having enjoyed a fine preseason, Stones suffered a thigh injury that has kept him out since the win over West Ham on the opening day of the Premier League campaign. 

But he returned to training shortly before the international break and is back in harness this afternoon.

Gabriel Jesus also returns to the matchday squad and is named on a powerful looking substitutes bench.

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This is how we line up at Carrow Road…

Ederson, Walker, Zinchenko, Otamendi, Stones, Rodrigo, Silva, Bernardo, Gundogan, Sterling, Aguero

Subs: Bravo, Jesus, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Cancelo, Foden

Team notes

With a busy schedule looming large, City manager Pep Guardiola has opted to utilise the strength in depth in his squad with both Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez amongst those on the bench. 

However, the champions are expected to maintain our tried and trusted 4-3-3 formation, which has proved such a potent system, in East Anglia

Back in the Premier League after their promotion last term Daniel Farke’s side have garnered praise for their approach – even if results haven’t quite gone their way.

To date the Canaries sole win came courtesy of a 3-1 home triumph over Newcastle with Norwich losing their three other league fixtures.

The Canaries have also been hit hard by injuries with up to 11 first team players expected to be unavailable today.

Back in business

We’re back in the fray following the international break at the start of what will be a hectic second half of September with five games in total between now and the end of the month.

At his pre-match press conference on Friday, the boss was at pains to stress that it was far too early in the season to draw conclusions as to who will feature in the title race.

But with leaders Liverpool recording their fifth consecutive win in the day’s early kick-off – a 3-1 win over Newcastle – a victory is crucial if we are to maintain the pressure on Jurgen Klopp’s side.

It would also represent the perfect way to kick-off a busy run of fixtures, with three of our next four outings coming away from home.