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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Joe Bray

Man City get training boost ahead of Fulham fixture with just one player missing

Manchester City are one player away from a full squad after welcoming back two players from the winter break.

With no Premier League fixtures last weekend, City allowed their players to have some much-needed time off, with many using the opportunity to jet off to warmer climes with their families.

Now back in the colder environment of Manchester, preparations are stepping up for the FA Cup fourth round clash with Championship leaders Fulham at the Etihad on Saturday.

Most of City's first-teamers have been pictured back at the City Football Academy, including Aleks Zinchenko who had missed the last four games with fitness and injury issues.

Zinchenko was pictured taking a full role in training, and his return eases the burden on full-backs Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo as City return to a schedule of three games a week for the foreseeable future. With Walker banned for three Champions League games, starting with the last-16 first leg at Sporting in a fortnight, Zinchenko will be needed to fill in on the left.

The Ukrainian's return means Cole Palmer is now the only City player believed to be absent after he missed the last two games for fitness reasons.

Palmer wasn't spotted in the limited photographs published by City on Tuesday, which doesn't necessarily mean he didn't train. Similarly, any other players not pictured isn't any indication of new issues within the squad.

Another player back in the squad was Riyad Mahrez, back from a disappointing African Cup of Nations tournament and a subsequent week holiday to recover. City may have expected him to be involved in the latter stages of the competition, with the semi-finals beginning on Wednesday night, but defending champions Algeria were knocked out in the group stages with just one point from their three games.

City players pictured training ahead of Fulham tie: Ake, Dias, Stones, Laporte, Mbete, Walker, Cancelo, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Foden, McAtee, Grealish, Bernardo, Sterling, Mahrez.

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