Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed hope that Marc Guehi could feature in the Carabao Cup final.
The defender joined City during January but missed the semi-final second leg because registration deadlines ruled him ineligible.
EFL regulations require players to be registered before the first semi-final leg, blocking Guehi from later involvement in competition.
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That rule also applies to the final, meaning the England international is currently unavailable for Wembley showdown.
Ironically, Guehi scored against Arsenal earlier in the tournament, forcing penalties during City’s dramatic quarter-final clash.
Guardiola questions Carabao Cup eligibility rules
Guardiola admitted confusion over the regulations, questioning why a fully registered, high-profile signing cannot feature in the final.
The City boss revealed plans to contact EFL officials, hoping an exception or clarification could allow Guehi’s inclusion.
He believes such rules undermine clubs making significant investments and limit player involvement during crucial matches unfairly.
City argue circumstances have changed, especially after recent adjustments to eligibility rules within the Carabao Cup structure, reports Standard.
Earlier this season, Antoine Semenyo played despite appearing for another club, adding to confusion surrounding consistency of enforcement.
Despite optimism, City accept Guehi remains unavailable unless the EFL agrees to revise or reinterpret existing regulations.
For now, Guardiola focuses on squad fitness, while Arsenal prepare assuming Guehi will miss the high-stakes Wembley final.
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