It has been revealed that Jeremy Doku sustained a calf injury as Manchester City fell to a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the FA Community Shield. Belgian publication Nieuwsblad reports that Doku will miss Manchester City’s first Premier League fixture of the 2026-27 season against Bournemouth due to the injury he sustained. It is also expected that Doku will face a delayed start to the new season. Enzo Maresca will have to find a solution to the issue that Doku’s absence creates against Bournemouth. However, the solution does seem obvious.
Antoine Semenyo starting on the left wing with Rayan Cherki on the right should cover Doku’s absence against Bournemouth.
If Jeremy Doku were fully fit, it would be expected that he’d start on the left wing for Manchester City against Bournemouth. Antoine Semenyo would likely start on the right. With Doku ruled out of the match, it would be expected that Semenyo would move over to the left wing. That would open up a spot on the right wing.
Looking at the options that Enzo Maresca can use on the right wing against Bournemouth, Rayan Cherki is the clear standout. Cherki played on the right wing last season and he drifts out there when playing through the middle. Enzo Maresca’s side relies on creativity from out wide to create chances. Cherki is by far and away the obvious player to slot in on the right wing to allow Semenyo to play on the left wing to cater for Jeremy Doku’s absence against Bournemouth. In fact, it is such an obvious solution to the issue Maresca faces with Jeremy Doku injured that it would be a major surprise if he went in another direction.
There is potentially another option for Manchester City to use on the wing against Bournemouth, but it seems unlikely to be used.
One option that Maresca may consider is playing Rayan Ait-Nouri on the left wing with Semenyo on the right. Ait-Nouri did play on the left wing throughout Manchester City’s preseason tour of Asia and he did score two goals. So that idea could be in play. Savinho is unlikely to feature due to illness and his desire for a summer transfer. At this point, he is likely not an option for Enzo Maresca to consider. It would be a shock if Jack Grealish started against Bournemouth.
However, having considered the possibility of Rayan Ait-Nouri starting on the left wing, that option wouldn’t offer the threat of Rayan Cherki on the right wing and Semenyo on the left. The solution to Doku’s absence through injury this weekend seems obvious. It will be interesting to see if Maresca chooses that option or has another up his sleeve with the squad he has available for Manchester City’s opening Premier League fixture against Bournemouth.