Man United v Man City: Eight players who could miss the first derby meeting between Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola

JOSE MOURINHO and Pep Guardiola go head to head for the first time as they renew their bitter rivalry in the Manchester derby this weekend - but both will have key absentees.

Mourinho has a possible defensive crisis as Manchester United could be without both of his first-choice full-backs for the Old Trafford showdown - while Guardiola is missing the suspended Sergio Aguero.

Manchester City's key marksman Aguero is banned for three matches after he was judged to have deliberately elbowed West Ham's Winston Reid in the last round of games.

But a host of other players from both sides are carrying injuries, and while some may recover in time, these eight players will be missed from an already-mouthwatering tie.

Definitely Out

Sergio Aguero

The prolific Argentine marksman was not sent off for his challenge on Reid, but on reviewing of video evidence, it was deemed to have been deliberate and he is now banned for the next three matches.

Although Aguero, who has scored SIX in just four games so far for City this campaign, was already out of this week's internationals with yet another muscle injury, this time to his calf.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Armenian midfielder Mkhitaryan limped out of international duty this week with a thigh problem, having returned to Carrington for treatment.

The Armenian FA warned that initial tests on the 27-year-old were "not encouraging", and so they proved with the playmaker now out for 10 days.

Maybe Out

Luke Shaw

United only have two pressing worries aside from Mkhitaryan but they are important ones to their two first choice full backs.

Jose Mourinho is concered about left-back Luke Shaw, who has had a sparkling start to the season, after he was forced to fly home from England duty as a precautionary measure with a calf problem.

There are rumours he is nearly fit, but will Saturday come too soon for the former Southampton man?

Antonio Valencia

Valencia is not injured, but does not arrive back from international duty with Ecuador until just 24 hours before Saturday's lunchtime kick-off after play in Peru on Wednesday night.

Given the match on Saturday is an early kick-off, it gives him almost no time to recovery from a long journey.

If he is not ready, Mourinho could be forced to split up  his central defensive pairing of Eric Bailly and Daley Blind who have been so impressive so far. Blind may go to left-back.

Bacary Sagna

Sagna has recently established himself as the first choice right-back at City, but tweaked his hamstring before the international break.

He has had time to recover and Guardiola hopes he will be fit, but will Saturday been too soon, given the sensitiveness of a hamstring? If not, Pablo Zabaleta will deputise.

Leroy Sane

Sane has not played a minute yet for City since his £42million arrival from Schalke, having pulled his hamstring before the season started.

But returned to light training before the international break and one suspects he should be involved this Saturday with a place on the substitutes bench.

Ilkay Gundogan

The £21m man from Dortmund is another to have not played a minute yet having been recovering from a long-term knee injury when he signed.

But like Sane, box-to-box midfielder Gundogan was training before the break and could be finally involved on Saturday.

Vincent Kompany

Kompany has been out since May after undergoing thigh surgery which saw him miss Belgium's Euro 2016 campaign, having been plagued by recurring injuries in recent times.

Guardiola has set the captain will not be allowed back for City until the boss is absolutely satisfied his captain does not run the risk of another setback - but he has been back in training and his leadership is always valuable.

Almost Certainly Back

Marouane Fellaini

One man who is almost certainly back in the fold is big Belgian Marouane Fellaini, who has gotten a new lease of like under Mourinho with some fine displays before getting injured in the 1-0 win over Hull.

But the back injury he sustained has healed over the international break and journalist  – who follows Belgium’s Premier League contingent – insists he has made a full recovery and could play for Roberto Martinez's side against Cyprus tomorrow ahead of the derby.