Pep Guardiola handed major Phil Foden boost ahead of pivotal Bayern Munich tie

Manchester City forward Phil Foden will be available for selection for the return leg of his side’s Champions League quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich.

City took a major step towards their third Champions League semi-final in three years with a convincing 3-0 beating of Thomas Tuchel’s men in the opening leg at the Etihad Stadium last week.

Goals from Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland have put the Premier League champions in the driving seat ahead of Wednesday’s return leg in Munich.

It was business as usual for City at the weekend as they dispatched Leicester City to keep up pace with Premier League leaders Arsenal, whom they face in their next league outing.

The Blues, fighting on three fronts, also have an FA Cup semi-final trip to Wembley on horizon as the chase for a potential treble continues for Manchester City, who have won each of their last 10 games across all competitions heading into their upcoming meeting with Bayern.

City were handed a major selection boost for the second leg when Phil Foden was spotted in first-team training in the build-up to the game.

Speaking ahead of a return to the touchline at the Allianz Arena, Guardiola confirmed that Foden will be available for selection in Munich but will not feature from the off.

“We are delighted! It is definitely good news for us,” said the 52-year-old on Foden’s return to full fitness. “He (Foden) has trained just one training session, but we decided that he will travel with us (to Germany) and be on the bench.

“Of course not 90 minutes (against Bayern Munich). Because of his physicality, he (Foden) doesn’t need many training sessions to be fit.”

With a possible 14 games to go before the season finishes should City go all the way in the FA Cup and Champions League, Guardiola will need all the ammunition he can get in the run-in.

The City manager added: “He (Foden) is important not just for tomorrow (Wednesday), but for the tight schedule we have ahead of us.”

Real Madrid progressed to the Champions League semi-final at the expense of Chelsea on Tuesday and will face the winner of Manchester City vs Bayern Munich in the penultimate stage of the competition.