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Bournemouth vs Manchester City team news: Kevin de Bruyne returns, Willy Caballero starts in goal

The Belgium international makes his first league start since January as Manuel Pellegrini rings the changes

Mark Critchley
Saturday 02 April 2016 14:22 BST
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Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne
Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne (2015 Getty Images)

Kevin de Bruyne starts his first league game for Manchester City since January as Manuel Pellegrini makes five changes to the side which suffered a derby defeat to Manchester United.

Willy Caballero, hero of the Capital One Cup final, replaces the injured Joe Hart in goal while Fernando comes in for Yaya Toure, who is out with a knee injury.

Raheem Sterling is replaced by De Bruyne, in another enforced change following the winger’s groin injury.

Pablo Zabaleta and Nicolas Otamendi comes into the side for Bacary Sagna and Martin Demichelis respectively.

Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth are without striker Benik Afobe, who picked up a hamstring problem while on international duty with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The former Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers striker is replaced by Lewis Grabban.

Eunan O’Kane comes into the line-up for Harry Arter, in the only other change from the team which started the recent 3-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

Line-ups

Bournemouth: Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Ritchie, O’Kane, Surman Gradel; Grabban, King

Substitutes: Federici, Distin, Elphick, Gosling, Iturbe, Pugh, Murray

Manchester City: Caballero, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Mangala, Clichy, Navas, Fernando, Fernandinho, Silva, De Bruyne, Aguero

Substitutes: Wright, Demichelis, Sagna, Kolarov, Nasri, Iheanacho, Bony

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