Man City blow as star defenders Ruben Dias and John Stones ruled out of Burnley clash for Premier League opener

Manchester City have been forced to shuffle up their backline as Ruben Dias and John Stones were left out of their matchday squad to face Burnley.

Meanwhile the Citizens also left new signing Josko Gvardiol on the bench for the Turf Moor clash following his £77million switch from RB Leipzig.

GettyStones and Dias were not named in the City squad to face Burnley[/caption]

Pep Guardiola‘s side kick-off their Premier League campaign away at Burnley on Friday night – which you can listen to live on talkSPORT.

But City are without star defenders Dias and Stones due to fitness reasons.

A club statement read: “Stones misses out through injury, while Dias is also not fully fit to be included in tonight’s squad.”

Pep Guardiola revealed to Sky Sports that Stones has picked up an abductor injury.

Whereas Portugal international Dias suffered a concussion in the same training session.

In their place, Manuel Akanki and Nathan Ake are the preferred centre-back pairing.

Kyle Walker keeps his place at right-back, while Rico Lewis has been drafted in to play on the opposite side of the defence.

Guardiola has made five changes from the side that lost to Arsenal in the Community Shield.

GettyThe Citizens have stated that the pair are not fully fit[/caption]

Goalkeeper Ederson has replaced Stefan Ortega between the sticks, with Ake, Lewis, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden all starting.

Unsurprisingly, Erling Haaland leads the line for City, who also have opted to include Julian Alvarez in their line-up.

But Jack Grealish has been dropped to the bench, along with Mateo Kovacic.