Doku and O’Reilly Missing from Manchester City Training Ahead of Porto Clash

Jeremy Doku and Nico O’Reilly were both missing from Manchester City’s training session on Monday, casting early doubt over their involvement in the Champions League trip to Porto.

The pair sat out as City went through their final preparations before flying to Portugal for Tuesday night’s group-stage clash. No official explanation has yet been given for either absence, but with the session open and competitive, their non-involvement was impossible to ignore.

Doku has not featured in the Premier League so far this season, a curious subplot in a squad packed with attacking options. O’Reilly, meanwhile, was forced to withdraw from the starting XI ahead of Saturday’s win over Coventry after suffering a back problem, a late change that disrupted plans but did little to slow City’s momentum.

City arrive in Europe with maximum domestic confidence, three wins from three in the Premier League and a growing sense of rhythm under Enzo Maresca. The expectation is simple: carry that sharpness onto the continental stage.

The question now is whether they will have their full attacking arsenal available. Doku’s direct running and O’Reilly’s versatility would both offer Maresca something different against a Porto side usually stubborn on home turf.

Maresca is expected to address the situation when he faces the media later on Monday, with clarity on Doku and O’Reilly’s status likely to shape not just the starting line-up, but the entire approach to City’s first major European test of the campaign.