Manchester City will be looking to build upon their third successive EFL Cup triumph as they travel to Sheffield Wednesday for the fifth round of the FA Cup on Wednesday night, claim agencies.
Despite failing to emulate the success of their last two Premier League campaigns, City continue to assert their dominance in the domestic cup scene, and have now won four on the bounce in all competitions. Nevertheless, the manner of City's victory was certainly less emphatic than what has become accustomed to seeing from Pep Guardiola's side in cup finals.
A two-year ban from European football has done little to damage the spirit and tenacity of Guardiola's players. Guardiola himself has admitted that his reign in the Etihad dugout would be a failure without a Champions League trophy to his name, but the Spaniard's focus must now turn to Hillsborough for City's first meeting with Wednesday since 2015.
In contrast, Wednesday lie smack-bang in the middle of the Championship table, but have seen their playoff hopes dwindle in
recent weeks with only one win in their last six.
The Owls conceded three goals in the opening 30 minutes as they fell to defeat against Derby in front of the Hillsborough faithful on Saturday, meaning the pressure continues to pile on manager Garry Monk.
Guardiola is expected to make several changes to the side that beat Villa on Sunday.
Defender Aymeric Laporte remains sidelined with a thigh problem, and it is still too soon for Leroy Sane to make a return. Sergio Aguero was substituted after picking up a knock in Sunday's final, however the South American has confirmed that the injury is not serious.
Joao Cancelo missed out altogether against Villa, but has played every minute of City's FA Cup campaign this season thus far. Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus all started Sunday's final on the bench and will be eyeing up a place in the starting XI come Wednesday.
The Owls have no fresh injury concerns going into the fifth-
round clash.
Top scorer Steven Fletcher lasted only 45 minutes on his first-team return against Derby, however Monk affirmed that the Scotsman's substitution was only a precautionary measure.
The trio of Moses Odubajo, Adam Reach and Massimo Luongo are all expected to return to training this week, but are unlikely to feature in the midweek fixture.
