Manchester City have been handed a crucial double injury boost ahead of this week’s important matches against Juventus and Manchester United.
Pep Guardiola’s side head to Turin on Wednesday night for a high-profile meeting with the Serie A giants as they bid to get their Champions League campaign back on track after blowing a 3-0 lead to draw at home to Feyenoord last month and drop to 17th in the standings having also been thrashed 4-1 by Sporting Lisbon.
Then on Sunday comes the small matter of a Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium as City attempt to return to winning ways after another disappointing result at Crystal Palace that brought a swift end to their brief resurgence against Nottingham Forest following a seven-game winless run across all competitions that included four successive Premier League defeats.
Persistent injury issues have not helped City during a recent slump that is unprecedented in a frustrated Guardiola’s illustrious managerial career, but that picture now looks set to improve after Phil Foden and Mateo Kovacic both took part in team training on Tuesday ahead of City’s flight to Italy.
England forward Foden has not played for City since the 2-0 defeat at Liverpool at the start of December, missing the meetings with Forest and Palace after battling bronchitis.
Kovacic, meanwhile, last featured in the 2-1 loss at Brighton on November 9 due to an unspecified injury suffered while away on international duty with Croatia in the Nations League.
However, both now appear on track to return either against Juventus or United, providing Guardiola with some timely positive news on the selection front.
Foden remains a key attacking threat for City and Kovacic’s importance in midfield has only increased after Ballon d’Or winner Rodri sustained a serious knee injury in September and was ruled out for the rest of the season after surgery.
City will remain without young winger Oscar Bobb against both Juventus and United, while it remains to be seen if defenders John Stones, Nathan Ake or Manuel Akanji will have any involvement in those matches after their recent injuries.
Rico Lewis will be available to play in the Champions League, but is suspended for the Manchester derby after being sent off late for two bookable offences after scoring City’s second equaliser in their 2-2 draw with Palace at Selhurst Park last weekend.
