Pep Guardiola issues Manchester City fitness update ahead of West Ham

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided an update on his squad’s fitness ahead of Saturday’s Premier League tie with West Ham.

City enter the game against the Hammers in the backdrop of six consecutive victories, entering the Carabao Cup semi-final this week as goals from Rayan Cherki and Savinho helped the Blues secure a 2-0 win over Brentford at the Etihad Stadium.

The Blues are in a rich vein of form and can go top of the Premier League by beating West Ham on Saturday, with league leaders Arsenal set to visit Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday evening.

Jeremy Doku, Rodri and John Stones remained absent for City against Brentford on Wednesday, with Oscar Bobb also going off injured to pile on the personnel problems for Pep Guardiola, who also saw Omar Marmoush join the Egypt National Team for the Africa Cup of Nations this week.

Speaking in a press conference on Friday afternoon, Guardiola was asked about his side’s fitness ahead of this weekend’s visit from West Ham.

The Manchester City manager confirmed that all of his injured players will remain out of contention against the Hammers, which means the game will come too soon for Rodri, Doku, Bobb and Stones, with Mateo Kovacic ruled out till the spring of 2026.

“We have a game tomorrow and after we have five days before Nottingham (Forest), Sunderland. Between Nottingham and Sunderland, maybe a few of them will start to be back. But for tomorrow (against West Ham) – no,” Guardiola said on City’s injury situation.

Rodri’s continued absence – albeit with the 29-year-old back in first-team training for nearly a month – is set to see Nico Gonzalez retain his place in the middle of the park, with Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva expected to partner the Spaniard in midfield.

Guardiola made several changes to his starting XI in midweek but City are expected to revert to their strongest lineup against West Ham as they look to build on their recent run of fine form across all competitions.

City are also close to securing a place in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 after coming from behind to beat Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu last week, with Erling Haaland and Nico O’Reilly on the scoresheet.

Last time out in the Premier League, a brace from Haaland either side of Phil Foden’s seventh league strike of the season helped Manchester City earn a hard-fought 3-0 win over a Crystal Palace side that squandered a series of clear-cut goalscoring chances and let the visitors off the hook at Selhurst Park.

Defensive frailties remain for City and Guardiola will know his side need to stop leaking chances in the manner they have been this season if they are to sustain their title challenge as the campaign progresses.