Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola provided an injury update ahead of the Sky Blues’ meeting with 15th-placed Middlesbrough on Saturday at the Etihad.
Coming into the game on the back of an impressive 3-1 victory over Spanish giants Barcelona, Manchester City are sure to be high on confidence. The Citizens are currently the Premier League leaders with 23 points, but only by virtue of their superior goal difference compared to Arsenal and Liverpool.
Manchester City can add to the pressure at the top of the table by securing the three points on Saturday, as the Gunners are scheduled to take on the unbeaten Spurs in a keenly awaited North London derby on Sunday. Meanwhile, Liverpool also play on Sunday against Watford at Anfield.
Speaking at his press-conference (via Manchester City’s official website) ahead of City’s game, Pep Guardiola revealed Bacary Sagna, who is recovering from a hamstring tear, is close to a return but the Middlesbrough match would come too early for the right-back to be involved.
The manager also revealed Fabian Delph successfully underwent groin surgery and is now relatively pain-free. The English midfielder is back to individual training, but is ruled out for the Saturday’s tie.
Vincent Kompany’s recurring injuries problems have made Guardiola wary of rushing the Belgian back into action.. On being asked if he will start the game, the City head coach said he will speak with the physios and then take a decision.
There was also progress in the Yaya Toure saga after the midfielder apologized publicly on his Facebook and Twitter account.
Please see my statement on the situation at Manchester City: https://t.co/FgzLh7OE0c
— Yaya Touré (@YayaToure) November 4, 2016
Guardiola confirmed the Ivorian had a private conversation with him, and the player has been training with the first team. A return to the squad on Saturday does look on the cards for the midfield powerhouse.
PEP: I spoke with Yaya today, of course it’s a private conversation. It’s good news for Manchester City. #mcfc
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 4, 2016
Pep confirmed there were no other injury concerns for the team, praising the medical staff for their work in the fixture-heavy period.
