Manchester City’s injury crisis is now developing ahead of their clash with top four Tottenham
Pep Guardiola’s options look set to improve as he looks to end the worst defeat of his career against Tottenham.
Four key players have returned to training for this weekend’s clash with Tottenham in what looks to be a huge boost for Manchester City.
The Premier League champions have recently faced an ongoing injury crisis, which was a major factor in their fourth successive defeat in all competitions for the first time since 2006. It was the worst losing streak of Pep Guardiola’s managerial career.
They finished 10th in the new Champions League table, five points behind leaders Liverpool, and narrowly beat Tottenham Hotspur in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.
City face a quick encounter with Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday night as the Premier League resumes after the last international break since 2024, with the club’s injury concerns likely to be allayed ahead of this home game.
Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji attended training on Wednesday, according to photos released by Fabrizio Romano and the club.
De Bruyne made two substitute appearances in defeats to Sporting Lisbon and Brighton since returning from injury after two-and-a-half months, but will hope to play a bigger role after the Tottenham game.
The out-of-favour Belgium squad was unable to play in the recent Nations League double against Italy and Israel.
He is set to train at the Etihad Campus on Wednesday alongside John Stones, who has missed the last three games with a foot injury, while England keeper Lee Carsley has been ruled out for the club’s final games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland in their promotion bid. . Nations League Premier League.
Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji took part in training on Wednesday, according to photos released by Fabrizio Romano and the club.
De Bruyne has made just two substitute appearances since returning from a two-and-a-half month absence with a groin injury, in losses to Sporting Lisbon and Brighton.
However, he will be hoping to play a more prominent role against Tottenham after missing Belgium’s recent Nations League games against Italy and Israel.
He will train at the Etihad Campus on Wednesday alongside John Stones, who has missed the last three games with a foot injury and England manager Lee Carsley’s final game against Greece and Ireland.
It was later promoted to the first division of the League of Nations. Stones centre-back Manuel Akanji has also returned to training, bolstering an unusually weak defense which has conceded 10 goals in four defeats.
Akanji was ruled out of Switzerland’s matches against Serbia and Spain with a groin injury but appears to have overcome the injury.
Grealish has not played for City since the 2-1 win over Wolves on October 20 and his first England call-up prompted an angry response from Guardiola.
City will be hoping that all four players can play their part against Tottenham and it remains to be seen whether any other injured stars will feature at the weekend.
Phil Foden has also been ruled out of the England squad due to injury, striker Jeremy Doku has also been ruled out of the Belgium national team due to a groin injury and Ruben Diaz also missed the Carabao Cup defeat to Tottenham due to a calf injury.
That meant he could not join Portugal. Mateus Nunes and Nathan Ake have also suffered recent injuries, while Norwegian winger Oscar Bob is not expected to return until the New Year after undergoing surgery on a broken leg.
Ballon d’Or winner Rodry is still months away from returning from a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury he suffered in September, but he said he would like to play again this season, with the Club World Cup taking place this summer.
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