Evening Standard
·21 November 2024
Evening Standard
·21 November 2024
Pep Guardiola handed significant boost at best possible time
Manchester City have been handed a welcome injury boost ahead of the return to Premier League action this weekend.
Pep Guardiola’s side host Tottenham in Saturday’s evening game, with the City boss currently in the midst of an unprecedented run of poor form.
The 2-1 defeat at Brighton before the international break condemned Guardiola to a fourth consecutive defeat for the first time in his storied managerial career, leaving the champions in an unusual state of disarray.
Still, the week has brought good news for City, both on and off the pitch.
Not only has Guardiola seemingly agreed to extend his contract at the club, the City manager has been handed a big boost ahead of the clash with Spurs.
All of Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, Manuel Akanji and John Stones have been spotted in training, offering a welcome respite to the mounting injury problems City were dealing with before the break.
Big boost: Kevin De Bruyne is among those back in training for Man City
Getty Images
It of course remains to be seen if Guardiola risks any of them from the start after their fitness issues but having a host of key players available is a luxury City have not had of late.
Guardiola will need to provide an update on Phil Foden too after the forward pulled out of the England squad over the break. Jeremy Doku, Matheus Nunes and Ruben Dias have all been dealing with knocks of late too, so it will be fascinating if Guardiola has any updates on the likes of those.
Oscar Bobb and Rodri are long-term absentees.
Man City predicted XI: Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan, Silva; Foden, Haaland, Savinho
Doubts: Dias, Nunes, Doku
Injured: Rodri, Bobb
Time and date: 5.30pm GMT on Saturday 23 November 2024
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
TV channel and live stream: Sky Sports