Why Rodri is absent from Manchester City's matchday squad against Manchester United

Rodri has been excluded from Manchester City's matchday squad to face Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon.

The Premier League champions return to action after the international break and will be looking to maintain an unbeaten start to the season against Erik ten Hag's men.

City recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory against Wolves in their last league outing, with Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden on the scoresheet.

The aforementioned trio have kept their place in the starting XI for the Manchester derby though there are a few notable absentees for Pep Guardiola against Manchester United.

Nathan Ake starts at the expense of Ruben Dias in central defence alongside Manuel Akanji, who signed for the Blues on deadline day from Borussia Dortmund.

Ilkay Gundogan lines up in the number six position in a midfield trio completed by Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, who scored twice against City's local rivals in a 4-1 win in March.

Rodri serves as arguably the biggest miss for the hosts on Sunday afternoon and following initial concerns on social media over the Spaniard's fitness leading up to the announcement of team news, there is now more clarity around the situation.

As reported by Pol Ballus of The Athletic, Rodri sustained a calf issue in training on Saturday and Guardiola desired to wait until the day of the game to take a call over the 26-year-old's availability.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's 14:00 [UK] kick off, the Manchester City manager said: "Something in his (Rodri's) leg - (I) didn't want to take the risk. A little bit more than niggles."

Manchester United visit the home of the English champions having turned a corner after an underwhelming start to their season with defeats against Brighton and Brentford.

The Reds were handed a 2-0 loss at Old Trafford by Guardiola's side last term, with Bernardo Silva scoring on the cusp of half time after Eric Bailly's own goal early doors.

City claimed a stylish win in the reverse fixture as Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez bagged a brace each, though Jadon Sancho came back to haunt his boyhood club with a neat finish past Ederson in the first half.

The games will come thick and fast for the Blues, who welcome FC Copenhagen to the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League ahead of next weekend's Premier League meeting with Southampton.

Pep Guardiola and co will be keen on maintaining the pressure on leaders Arsenal, who have made a brilliant start to the season under Mikel Arteta and ran out 3-1 derby winners against Tottenham on Saturday.