Man City injury update: Rodri, John Stones and Nathan Ake latest return dates | OneFootball

Erling Haaland is back but Pep Guardiola still has several fitness issues ahead of FA Cup final clash with Crystal Palace at Wembley

Manchester City got a huge boost over the weekend as Erling Haaland made his long-awaited return from injury.

The club’s top scorer had not featured since injuring his ankle in the FA Cup quarter-final win over Bournemouth on March 30, missing seven games in a row across all competitions.

However, Haaland was declared fit to return by manager Pep Guardiola last week after being an unused substitute in the Premier League win over Wolves, starting and playing the full 90 minutes against Southampton at St Mary’s on Saturday.

The Norwegian’s comeback could not inspire Man City however as their Champions League qualification bid took a hit with a hugely disappointing goalless draw against the already-relegated Saints that came despite Guardiola’s dominant side having more than 70 per cent possession and 26 total shots.

Guardiola will hope his team improve that hit rate considerably in the FA Cup final showdown with Crystal Palace at Wembley next weekend, which is followed by closing league games against Bournemouth and Fulham before the Club World Cup begins in the United States next month.

Here’s all the latest Manchester City injury news and return dates ahead of that FA Cup final clash.

Rodri

Influential midfielder Rodri has not featured for City since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Arsenal back in September and undergoing surgery in Barcelona.

Initially thought lost for the season, with perhaps a chance of returning for the Club World Cup, the Ballon d’Or winner - whose long-term absence has largely been blamed for City’s uncharacteristic struggles this term - had been building up his fitness in individual training since February and returned to team sessions earlier this month.

However, Guardiola has urged caution with regards to Rodri’s comeback and says he will only use him once he gets the proper clearance to do so from the club’s medical staff.

Asked if that had come before the stalemate against Southampton, the Spaniard said only: “Still not available.”

It remains to be seen if he can be on the bench at Wembley, with a return in the final two league games probably more likely at this stage.

Potential return date: Tuesday May 20, vs Bournemouth (H)

John Stones

City have been missing Stones since the second leg of their defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League knockout play-off round in February.

He suffered a thigh injury that was expected to keep him out for up to 10 weeks, though avoided surgery.

Updates on Stones have been in short supply of late and his fitness was not addressed before the Southampton game, so it remains to be seen if he will return this season.

Potential return date: Unknown

Nathan Ake

Dutch defender last played for City in the FA Cup fifth-round win over Plymouth at the start of March, substituted at half-time and later undergoing surgery on a foot fracture.

He recently resumed partial team training but Guardiola confirmed he was not available to face Southampton.

Ake will be desperate to prove his fitness in time for the FA Cup final, though Bournemouth or Fulham seems more likely.

Potential return date: Tuesday May 20, vs Bournemouth (H)

Oscar Bobb

Like Ake, Bobb recently returned to partial team training at City but was not considered fit to be in contention against Southampton.

The 21-year-old winger returned from a leg fracture suffered during a training session shortly after the Community Shield in August with two late cameos off the bench against Leicester and Crystal Palace last month, only to then be ruled out again by a minor hamstring issue.

Potential return date: Tuesday May 20, vs Bournemouth (H)