Three of Manchester City's key players have effectively been banned from participating in the FIFA Club World Cup final.
The Citizens have reached the final stage of the tournament, in which they will take on Brazil's Fluminense, after a 3-0 thumping of Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds in their semi-final on Tuesday night.
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An own goal by Marius Hoibraten late in the first half and second-half goals by Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva helped the Citizens to victory at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
This is City's first appearance at the tournament and the English giants now have the opportunity to win their fifth trophy in 2023, having claimed the treble of the Premier League, FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League last season, and then beating Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup final in August.
They will, however, have to attempt to win the CWC without key players Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and Kevin De Bruyne, the latter of whom is said to be nearing full fitness after picking up a hamstring injury earlier this year.
The trio were not included in the 23-man squad that took on Urawa in the semis, and tournament rules indicate that the only players eligible to feature in the final of the competition are those who were included in the semi-final squad, per Sky Sports.
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De Bruyne recently returned to training with the first team, while his Norwegian teammate has been sidelined since picking up a foot problem during City's 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa earlier this month.
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