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Carabao Cup: Maresca gives Doku injury update as Man City prepare for Norwich
16th September, 2026 02:41 PM
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has revealed that Jeremy Doku is nearing a return to action ahead of Thursday’s, September 17, 2026 Carabao Cup third-round meeting with Norwich City.
The Belgium international has been sidelined for City’s last five matches after suffering a knock during the Community Shield encounter against Arsenal.
Maresca confirmed that Doku is making progress but stopped short of guaranteeing that the winger will feature against the Canaries at the Etihad Stadium.
“He is very close,” Maresca said.
Doku’s potential return would provide a boost to City as they begin their defence of the Carabao Cup, although the manager will have to cope with the absence of Phil Foden.
Foden was sent off during Sunday’s Manchester derby and is now serving a three-match suspension. He will miss Thursday’s cup tie as well as City’s Premier League matches against Sunderland and Liverpool.
Maresca admitted that losing the England midfielder is a significant setback, particularly after his encouraging start to the campaign.
“For us it is a big [blow],” he said.
“Phil started well for us and did good in the minutes he was on the pitch on Sunday but he is out tomorrow, then Sunderland and then Liverpool – then he’s back with us.”
With Foden unavailable and City managing their squad across multiple competitions, Maresca is also expected to use the Norwich fixture to give opportunities to some of the club’s younger players.
Academy graduates Ryan McAidoo, Kaden Braithwaite and Floyd Samba have been retained around the first-team group after impressing during pre-season.
McAidoo has already made two Premier League appearances, while Braithwaite featured against Crystal Palace. Samba is yet to make his senior appearance but could get his opportunity against Norwich.
“When we started pre-season we had many young players as you know, and then at the end we decided to keep these three players because we think they can improve training with us and then they can get some minutes,” he said.
“Ryan played in the Premier League twice, Kaden against Palace and the only one who hasn’t had minutes is Floyd – but he will and they will be involved for sure.”
The fixture therefore provides Maresca with an opportunity to balance his squad while keeping City’s Carabao Cup defence on course.
City won the competition in the 2025/26 season and will face Norwich at the Etihad on Thursday, September 17, with kick-off scheduled for 7:30pm UK time.
The Manchester club have won the League Cup nine times, with their previous triumphs coming in 1970, 1976, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2026.
