Manchester City team news: Laporte makes full debut against West Brom

 

Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has named new club-record signing Aymeric Laporte in the starting XI for Wednesday night’s clash with West Brom.

 

Guardiola’s side spent €65m (£56.9m) to sign Laporte from Athletic Club on Tuesday and the 23-year-old has been thrown straight in at the deep end despite being at the club for little over 24 hours.

 

Laporte’s debut has perhaps been brought forward faster than Guardiola would have ideally liked, but illness to John Stones has forced his hand to a certain extent.

 

Vincent Kompany came through 90 minutes unscathed on Sunday but the City skipper is not capable of playing two matches in the space of four days at the moment.

 

 

With Eliaquim Mangala on the verge of securing a deadline day loan move to Everton, Guardiola has instead turned to the second most expensive defender of all-time to partner Nicolas Otamendi at the back against West Brom.

 

City have a good chance to restore their 15-point lead at the top of the Premier League with second place Manchester United playing away to Tottenham in another of Wednesday night’s late kick offs.