It looks very likely that Chris Hughton will not take any chance's with John Ruddy, having limped off during Saturday's match at Everton with a thigh injury, so all eyes turn to Mark Bunn to make his Premier League debut for City at Southampton's St Mary's tonight.
Hughton has stressed several times this week, that he has no fears about handing the gloves to Bunn, having seen him put in an outstanding shift which included a late penalty save against Spurs in the Capitol One Cup, setting up a quater final showdown with ex boss Paul Lambert's Aston Villa.
City will also be without the services of centre-half Michael Turner whose shoulder injury rules him out of tonight’s trip to St Mary’s and possibily the weekend with his old employers, Sunderland.
Good news is that Russell Martin is back in contention after recovering from a back problem, he may have to settle for a place on the bench given Whittaker's run of games. Ryan Bennett who deputised at the weekend; is likely to continue alongside Sebastien Bassong this evening.
Tonight's game has an awkward look to it after the Saint's recent up turn aftter a shakey start, fine victories over QPR and Newcastle have settled the early nerves on the south coast: but City have no need to fear any team as they look to make it a magnificent seven unbeaten games.
No doubt eyes will be on City's Grant Holt and Saint's Ricky Lambert, as the old team mates meet up again for the first time, since their days at Rochdale where they formed a deadly partnership. Although they have gone their seperate ways, the similarities between their careers is uncanny – and both will want to be leading scorer in the fixture tonight.
Who ever comes out on top, one thing is still sure they both have shown that there is still a path from the bottom to the top in football
If that wasn't enough to catch the interest, Mark Clattenberg makes his come back, after the disgusting allegations of some Chelsea players, love him or not nobody deserves that treatment. It makes wonder if the war on racism may have over stepped the bounds, it would seem a person is judged guilty before the facts are found out. You throw enough mud sadly some sticks.