Manchester City were boosted by news that David Silva and Wilfred Bony are back and available for the weekend game against Southampton, but, have five players ruled out of the tie.
The Citizens missed influential playmaker David Silva when he was out over the last nine weeks following an ankle injury he sustained while playing for Spain against Luxembourg. The diminutive Spaniard had faced multiple set backs, prolonging his absence from the City squad more than what was initially expected.
Another man also returning back in the squad will be Wilfred Bony. The powerful Ivorian had missed City’s last two games following a hamstring injury he suffered during his side’s 0-0 draw against Aston Villa.
Pellegrini was quoted saying by ESPN FC ahead of the Southampton tie in a news conference: “David Silva and Wilfried Bony are both in the squad list.”
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The manager also went on to reveal that City will be missing services of Joe Hart t0 add to the already big list of injured defensive players. Hart is out after sustaining an injury in the midweek clash against Juventus.
“Joe Hart has a muscle injury. You never know as he improves but maybe he will be out for 10 days. Fortunately it is not a very serious injury but he has a muscle injury so it is important for him to recover well,” Pellegrini said.
City Captain Vincent Kompany is out with a calf problem, while Eliaquim Mangala is expected to be out for the next two games. Pablo Zabaleta looks set to miss three games as a result of yet another knee his injury, his third of the campaign.
Samir Nasri is one of the five players that are out for City in the tie against Southampton.
“Mangala has a muscle problem in his hamstring,” Pellegrini explained. “I hope he will be fit for Stoke. Zabaleta has the same injury in his ligament in his knee. He needs to make a treatment. He will be out for at least 10 days.”