MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 10: Max Alleyne of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team\u2019s first goal during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Exeter City at Etihad Stadium on January 10, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n For some reason, I have a nagging feeling that this will be Pep Guardiola\u2019s selected centre back duo against the Toon.<\/p>\n Both players were substituted for rest against Exeter on Saturday – Nathan Ake at half time and Max Alleyne midway through the second half.<\/p>\n Ake is the most senior defender City have available at the moment with injuries to Ruben Dias, John Stones and Josko Gvardiol, but has shown slight signs of regression this season, remains very injury prone and will probably leave in the summer.<\/p>\n Alleyne meanwhile has been a revelation in his first week at the club since being recalled from loan at Watford, starting in both of City\u2019s games against Brighton and Hove Albion and Exeter and even opening the scoring against the Grecians.<\/p>\n To add to that, it seems Guardiola doesn\u2019t fully trust Abdukodir Khusanov yet. He can be rash with his decision making and whilst his pace is a superpower, Alleyne probably edges him in terms of ability on the ball, and as of late City have usually been lining up with one left footed centre back and one right footed centre back (meaning in this case Ake + Khusanov or Alleyne.)<\/p>\n There\u2019s obviously the chance that all three of them play, and Ake plays at left back. But Nico O\u2019Reilly has had enough rest across the last three games now, and Rayan Ait-Nouri should also be back from the Africa Cup of Nations, meaning this possibility is slim.<\/p>\n I could be wrong, and indeed would like to see Khusanov start at the back, but I just can\u2019t shake the feeling that this will be Guardiola\u2019s go to partnership.<\/p>\n Crucial partnership number 2 – Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo<\/strong><\/p>\n MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 10: Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City comes off for Jeremy Doku of Manchester City during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Exeter City on January 10, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n Coming onto the second important duo to the outcome of the game, and this has the possibility to be an extremely exciting winger duo for City.<\/p>\n Jeremy Doku has taken a big step forward this season after his first two seasons in sky blue were reasonably underwhelming.<\/p>\n He\u2019s scored just one goal in the Premier League, but is making better decisions in front of goal and has chipped in with four assists, as well as winning several penalties and creating goals without actually being credited with the assist.<\/p>\n Antoine Semenyo, meanwhile, had an excellent City debut, with a lovely cross assisting Rico Lewis before an emphatic goal capped off a very solid first appearance since his \u00a362.5 million move from Bournemouth earlier in the week.<\/p>\n Both players are tricky wingers who love to take on a man. Whilst no-one is as good as Doku in short acceleration and one vs one dribbling in the Premier League, Semenyo is better over long distances and offers a threat in behind, as well as providing more in terms of goals and assists.<\/p>\n They provide a promising glimpse into the future in terms of wide players at the club, and hopefully we\u2019ll see them on the pitch at the same time for the first time at St James\u2019s Park.<\/p>\n Crucial partnership number 3 – Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade<\/strong><\/p>\n NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 17: Yoane Wissa of Newcastle United is replaced as a substitute by Nick Woltemade during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Newcastle United and Fulham at St James\u2019 Park on December 17, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n For the home side, they\u2019re beginning to get the most out of the two big money centre forwards they signed in the summer to replace departing star striker Alexander Isak.<\/p>\n Nick Woltemade enjoyed a good start after numerous of Newcastle\u2019s first choice targets – namely Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko elected to move elsewhere, but his goals have dried up a little lately and Yoane Wissa has replaced him in the regular starting XI.<\/p>\n The former Brentford striker joined in the nick of time on deadline day, after he missed training to force a move to the North East with the two clubs eventually agreeing a \u00a355 million fee.<\/p>\n Against Bournemouth, the two played together, with Woltemade sitting deep and playmaking and Wissa acting as the nine (despite the German\u2019s height meaning he\u2019s the more obvious choice to the target man.)<\/p>\n Wissa has been injured for most of the season but likes a goal against City, bagging twice against the Blues for Brentford last season.<\/p>\n The two of them compliment each other with Woltemade\u2019s tendency to drop deep matching Wissa\u2019s inclination to dart in behind, and the two of them could cause City some problems if they start together.<\/p>\n![\"MANCHESTER,](\"https:\/\/platform.bitterandblue.sbnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/01\/gettyimages-2255538271.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100\")
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