Manchester City will look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League when they entertain Hull City on Saturday.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side fell to a surprise 3-2 defeat at Cardiff City last time out, and will be eager to avoid further disappointment against another of the newly promoted teams at the Etihad Stadium.
City looked in fine form in their first game of the campaign as they comprehensively disposed of Newcastle United 4-0 but then came unstuck in South Wales, despite dominating large spells of the match.
Vincent Kompany missed the encounter at the Cardiff City Stadium after sustaining a groin strain in their opening-day victory and will again be on the sidelines this weekend.
The injury to their captain has exacerbated City’s shortage of defenders, with Micah Richards (knee) also unavailable.
However, Serbia international Matija Nastasic could be in line for his first appearance of the campaign against Hull after injuring his ankle in pre-season.
Pellegrini has no such problems at the other end of the pitch, though, and the wealth of attacking options available to the Chilean is shown in the fact City’s six league goals so far have been scored by different players.
David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri, Edin Dzeko and Alvaro Negredo have all found the net, while close-season signing Stevan Jovetic is yet to make his debut.
Hull have also made a mixed start to their first top-flight campaign since 2009-10, but will head to last season’s runners-up in high spirits after beating Norwich City at the KC Stadium last weekend.
This result followed a 2-0 opening-day defeat at Chelsea, and Steve Bruce’s men are likely to face another stern test on Saturday against a City side that has lost just four of their last 58 home Premier League games.
Hull have never beaten City in their previous four Premier League meetings, and they failed to win a single match away from home in the 2009-10 season.
However, Hull managed to grab a point from their last trip to the Etihad Stadium in November 2009.
Bruce has no new injury worries ahead of the match, but midfielder Stephen Quinn, who has missed both of Hull’s first two games with a hamstring problem, will again be absent.
Meanwhile, Yannick Sagbo begins his three-game suspension after receiving a straight red card in last week’s win over Norwich.
