Why Nathan Ake is absent from the Manchester City squad against Brentford?

Nathan Ake is absent from the Manchester City matchday squad against Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday lunchtime.

The 27 year-old has been in a rich vein of form across the course of the season.

Nathan Ake has operated largely as a central defender for Pep Guardiola this season, but has offered his services at left-back on some occasions.

Operating most successfully alongside summer signing Manuel Akanji, Ake has also looked comfortable alongside any of Manchester City's other defensive options.

That is a stark contrast from the former Bournemouth defender's first season in Sky Blue.

Across the course of the 2020/21 season, John Stones and Ruben Dias were mainstay's in the centre of Manchester City's defence.

However, it was not just Ake who suffered as a result of their fine form, with Aymeric Laporte also having to fight to earn back his place in the team.

City embark on their final match of the season before the mid-campaign break for the 2022 FIFA World Cup this weekend.

Brentford are the visitors to the Etihad Stadium in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off.

However, one name is notably absent from the matchday squad alongside Kyle Walker - who remains ruled out through injury.

As per Tyrone Marshall of the Manchester Evening News, Manchester City's Dutch international central defender Nathan Ake is absent as his wife is due to give birth.

Confirmed team news

Manchester City

Starting XI: Ederson; Stones, Akanji, Laporte, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Bernardo, Haaland, Foden.

Substitutes: Ortega Moreno, Dias, Phillips, Grealish, Alvarez, Gomez, Mahrez, Palmer, Lewis.

Brentford

Starting XI: Raya; Rasmussen, Zanka, Mee, Pinnock, Henry; Onyeka, Janelt, Jensen; Mbeumo, Toney.

Substitutes: Cox, Yarmolyuk, Canos, Crama, Dasilva, Lewis-Potter, Ghoddos, Norgaard, Wissa.