The latest edition of the Manchester derby takes place on Sunday at Old Trafford, with City looking to extend their lead at the top of the table.
Maresca has won his first three league games in the Citizens dugout, with his side level on points and goal difference with Arsenal, and ahead by virtue of scoring one more goal.
United have had a tough start to the season but City have won just two of the last six Manchester derbies and it’s been three years since they last triumphed at Old Trafford.
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But Maresca has been handed a timely boost, with O’Reilly passed fit to play having been sidelined for the last week with a back injury.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Maresca said the left-back/midfielder was ‘100 per cent available’ to play against United.
Jeremy Doku has not played since the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal (Photo: Getty)
However, the Italian also confirmed that Jeremy Doku will miss the derby, as the winger ‘needs a few more days’ before he is fully recovered from a calf injury.
While this is Maresca’s first Manchester derby as City manager, it is far from his first experience of the fixture, having previously served as Pep Guardiola’s assistant.
‘It is very important for different reasons. We know how important a derby is, especially here,’ he said of the fixture.
‘A special game. The most important thing we can do is try to be ourselves and then we see the final result.
‘I have been involved in different derbies. I promise you the worst one is Olympiakos vs Panathinaikos. I promise you that is very hot!
‘It’s very important [to beat United]. It’s my first derby and I want to win the game.’
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