Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sergio Aguero… Check out the Manchester derby injured XI ahead of Thursday’s game

IT’S nearly time for the Manchester derby and you know what that means…

That’s right some of the best players in the country will go toe-to-toe in one of the most-heated rivalries in football.

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That said, there will be a fair few of said stars watching on from the sideline as both Manchester United and Manchester City are dealing with a host of injuries.

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Both Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola‘s men have SEVEN injured stars in their squad, behind only Liverpool (8) in having the most crocked players in the Premier League.

In fact, United and City can boast so many injuries you can create an entire XI out of it… with subs.

So that’s exactly what we’ve done.

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Ahead of Thursday night's crucial top four showdown at the Etihad Stadium, check out our Manchester derby injured XI.

DEFENCE

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David De Gea, Bacary Sagna, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones & Marco Rojo

THE injuries have been so bad in Manchester, that the back four could easily pass as a full-strength combined XI.

De Gea sneaks in after just recovering from injury, while team-mates Smalling and Jones fill the centre-back slots with knee and toe injury respectively.

Rojo slots in at left-back with a severe ACL injury sustained against Anderlecht, with Bacary Sagna sidelined with a groin strain.

MIDFIELD

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Juan Mata, Paul Pogba & David Silva

AGAIN, this trio could quite comfortably pass as a full strength combined midfield three.

£89million Pogba limped out of the 2-0 win away to Burnley with a muscular injury.

He joins Spaniards Mata - who is out for the season with a groin injury - and Silva who is suffering from a hamstring knock.

FORWARDS

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Sergio Aguero, Zlatan Ibrahimovic & Gabriel Jesus

ANOTHER stunningly strong front three all on the sidelines, none of these will take to the Etihad turf on Thursday.

Jesus is still on the mend after suffering a metatarsal fracture earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Ibrahimovic suffered an horrendous ACL injury against Anderlecht and could be out until 2018, while Aguero has a muscle injury.

SUBSTITUTES

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Bacary Sagna, Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan & James Wilson

AS promised, there's even room for subs.

Gundogan suffered an ACL injury earlier in the season and will be out until next season, while Sagna has a groin strain.

Fernandinho has a muscle injury and is out indefinitely, while Wilson also tore his ACL and is out for the season.