Kevin De Bruyne made his return to Manchester City's matchday squad but was only among the substitutes for Saturday's lunchtime Premier League clash with West Ham.

The Belgium playmaker sustained a minor injury while on international duty this month, keeping him out of last weekend's match against Arsenal and the Champions League meeting with Porto.

Manager Pep Guardiola suggested a heavy workload and lack of opportunity for rest was a factor in De Bruyne getting hurt, and that appeared to be reflected in his choice to ease the 29-year-old back into action.

City's starting XI was unchanged for the clash at the London Stadium – a happy hunting ground in recent times for the visitors.

It marks the first time since October 2017 that Guardiola has named an unchanged line-up in consecutive games, when he did so in matches against Stoke City and Napoli.

There was no place in the squad for defenders Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte, who along with De Bruyne missed the Porto game because of injury.

City have enjoyed five successive thumpings of West Ham in London over the last four years, beginning with a 5-0 FA Cup win over the Hammers in January 2017.

In the Premier League, City have won 4-0, 4-1, 4-0 and 5-0 in consecutive visits, but for the first time since March 2009 they headed into a game against West Ham sitting beneath their opponents in the table, albeit only on goal difference and having played one fewer game.

City have beaten West Ham in nine consecutive games, but they were set to face in-form hosts, who followed a 4-0 home win against Wolves and 3-0 victory at Leicester by clawing their way back from three goals down to hold Tottenham 3-3 last weekend.

The last time West Ham scored three or more goals in four consecutive league games was in September 1928, when they followed a 4-0 home win, a 3-0 away win and a 3-3 away draw with a 4-1 home victory.