Pep Guardiola provides updated timeframe on Manuel Akanji’s Manchester City return after surgery recovery | OneFootball

Manuel Akanji could return to Manchester City training or action as soon as this month, according to a new update from manager Pep Guardiola.

The Swiss international has been among a number of players hampered by injury and fitness problems throughout the course of the ongoing season, playing a significant role in Manchester City’s overall struggles.

Pep Guardiola was most notably forced into fielding a makeshift defence for a high-profile UEFA Champions League meeting with Sporting CP during the group phase of this season’s competition, with none of his regular starting central defenders fully-fit and available.

As such, the club reacted with intent and urgency during the January transfer window as they spent upwards of £80 million on the arrivals of Abdukodir Khusanov from RC Lens and Vitor Reis from Palmeiras.

And while both of the aforementioned young defenders have started life in sky blue strongly, returning names from injury could add further competition to their hopes of consistent game time during the business end of the season.

Speaking during a recent press conference, manager Pep Guardiola was asked for an update on the fitness of Manuel Akanji in particular, before detailing further developments on fellow injured defensive stars in Nathan Ake and John Stones.

“He’s getting better,” Guardiola said of the Swiss international. “All of them I think, I don’t know Nathan (Ake), will come back before the end of the season. But I don’t know when. But Manu is getting better.”

While Guardiola was unable to state for certain when Akanji could begin training with the squad, he did clarify that both the 29-year-old and John Stones could be back for the club before the end of April.

“It’s a long time they’re out. Look with John and Nathan, all three. I’m lucky that Josko (Gvardiol) was like a warrior, a real warrior, all the time there, all the times since the beginning of the season,” the Catalan coach explained.

“So I cannot imagine what would happen without Josko, what they have done. That’s why I just can be grateful and appreciate his focus to be ready all the time.”

The returns of some of Manchester City’s most integral defenders over the last few seasons will no doubt be a significant boost to the club’s hopes of going as far as possible in the FA Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

Pep Guardiola will also need his squad at their strongest format in order to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League, with Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid on Tuesday night confirming an extra place for Premier League clubs.

As such, a top-five finish for Manchester City would be enough to secure Europe’s premier club competition next season, although there is intense competition from the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Aston Villa in particular.