Pep Guardiola will again be without Kyle Walker for the Premier League clash with Brighton tomorrow night and is sweating on the fitness of three more stars. Manchester City will need a win to stay top of the table if Liverpool avoid defeat to Manchester United tonight.
Walker still had his leg in a protective boot at the weekend after damaging his ankle in last week's draw at Atletico Madrid, and is already ruled out against the Seagulls. He has not been ruled out of Saturday's clash with Watford, but Guardiola says the prognosis will become clearer in the next day or two.
The other injury issues seem to be resolving themselves, with Kevin De Bruyne, Ruben Dias and Ilkay Gundogan - who was only fit enough for the bench at Wembley - all expected to be in the mix for the Etihad Stadium clash. Asked about his injured stars, Guardiola replied: "Kyle, no. The other ones are getting better and we will take the decision tomorrow."
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Dias has been out since damaging a hamstring at Peterborough at the start of March, and has been on the bench for the last two games. Guardiola says he is an option but the medical staff have urged caution in terms of rushing him back into action - and the form of John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake has made risk unnecessary in any case.
But the signs are good that Dias is ready, says Guardiola: "Ruben trained really good and yesterday but has been seven weeks off. When you recover you need tempo.
"He's intelligent, is a guy who knows his body. We are more than delighted he's back. Nathan makes an incredible contribution, and Ayme and John play a lot of games."
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