Skipper Bruno Fernandes is the heartbeat of the United team but while the midfielder’s creative powers are potent, his petulance can be just as noticeable, especially when things aren’t going his way in games. The Portuguese star averaged 1.20 fouls per 90 across the Premier League campaign and fouled at least once in 13 of his last 16 matches in the division.

When the 29-year-old faced Man City at Old Trafford back in October, he gave away three fouls – a joint-high figure for a Premier League fixture for Fernandes this term – and the talented technician committed another foul in the return fixture between the teams in March. Look for Fernandes’s frustrations to get the better of him again at Wembley Stadium.

Local lad Phil Foden notched three goals across City’s two Premier League encounters with rivals United earlier in the campaign and the 24-year-old’s knack for rising to the occasion in Manchester Derbies should make him a major menace again in Saturday’s FA Cup final.

In the lead-up to the Wembley showdown, Foden managed to get at least two shots on target in four of his last six appearances and the England international was in a devilishly devastating mood when he last lined up against United in March. Foden racked up a staggering nine attempts, four of which found the target, when City beat United 3-1 on that occasion and on that kind of form, the starlet is backable in the over 1.5 shots on target range again.

We return to the unplayable Phil Foden for the third leg. The City academy graduate has been tearing teams to shreds in recent months, though the opponents he has run ragged have been aiming plenty of kicks in his direction and Foden has been fouled at least once in each of his last 14 appearances for City in all competitions.

Indeed, Man Utd tried, unsuccessfully, to kick Foden out of the game in the last Manchester Derby in March, fouling the youngster four times in total at the Etihad Stadium. Foden’s match-winning ability could put a target on his back again on Saturday and the versatile performer could be fouled at least twice again in the FA Cup final.

Casemiro has endured a nightmare campaign for Man Utd and the Brazilian’s plight seemed to worsen when he was shifted back to centre-half to cover for his injured team-mates in the season’s latter exchanges. The 32-year-old was deployed as a centre-back in each of his last six appearances and committed at least one foul in five of those games and at least two in each of his last two assignments.

With injured specialist defenders returning to the fold, Casemiro could be moved back to his favoured position in midfield on Saturday, however, his foul count is unlikely to drop in a role where even more tackling is required. Indeed, Casemiro attempted seven tackles when he last faced City in March and keen to make an impact in what is likely to be his last match for Manchester United, the anchorman could throw his weight around again. Look for the former Real Madrid man to foul at least twice here.

Rodri has been the picture of consistency for Manchester City again this season and while the team’s midfield lynchpin is better known for his ball-winning and tempo-setting qualities, the Spaniard has also been tiptoeing forward with great effect this term. The 27-year-old managed two shots on target in City’s last league fixture against West Ham a week ago and Rodri has a habit of testing keepers in the Cityzens’ most important games.

The ex-Atletico Madrid star hit shots on target in tough tests against Aston Villa, Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid earlier this season and Rodri also managed to get a shot on target in each of this season’s two Manchester Derbies in the Premier League. Rodri also came within a whisker of scoring last year’s FA Cup final against United with a bullet header and he could threaten the Red Devils’ goal at least once in the 2024 edition.

Phil Foden has featured heavily in our Man City v Man United tips, though it makes sense to piggyback on his exceptional form. The attacking midfielder capped a breathtaking Premier League campaign last weekend with a superb brace against West Ham, taking his tally up to five goals in as many appearances for City and 19 in the league overall.

Alongside his impressive recent form, Foden’s love for finding the net in Manchester Derbies is impossible to ignore. The Stockport-born world-beater was the architect of United’s demise in the last derby, netting two of City’s three goals and Foden also got in on the act when the Cityzens dismantled their rivals 3-0 at Old Trafford in October. Foden has scored six Manchester Derby goals overall during his career and he could produce more heroics on Saturday.