Aymeric Laporte offers major Manchester City fitness update ahead of Newcastle clash

Manchester City have received a significant update on the fitness of Aymeric Laporte ahead of their return to Premier League action this weekend.

The Spain international has missed Manchester City’s last two matches across all competitions having fallen ill following the 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground last month.

City pressed on in the absence of Aymeric Laporte, recording a 1-1 draw in the Champions League last-16 first-leg against RB Leipzig, before booking their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 0-3 win over Bristol City on Tuesday night.

However, with the fixture list becoming increasingly hectic over the course of the coming days, Pep Guardiola will be hoping that his Manchester City squad can be at full strength – and the Catalan coach has now received an update on the fitness of his central defender.

Aymeric Laporte has been spotted training as normal alongside his Manchester City teammates on Wednesday afternoon, ahead of their return to Premier League action against Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.

Laporte trained alongside the City player who played little to no part in the victory at Ashton Gate on Tuesday night, including John Stones – who himself has recently returned to the squad following a muscular injury sustained back in January.

That means for the first time this season, Pep Guardiola could have a full compliment of central defensive options at his disposal for the visit of Eddie Howe’s squad this weekend, as the Magpies look to bounce back from Carabao Cup final disappointment.

Elsewhere, Kevin De Bruyne proved he has fully recovered from illness of his own, after scoring a sensational third for Manchester City against the Robins this week, securing a place in the last-eight of the prestigious cup competition.

One concern for Pep Guardiola and the City team ahead of that game and upcoming cup matches is the fitness of back-up goalkeeper Stefan Ortega Moreno – who was replaced at half-time against Bristol City with a hand problem sustained in the first-half.

Pep Guardiola could provide an update on the fitness of the German stopper when he addresses the media in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.