Pep Guardiola provides fresh Man City return dates on John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, and Jack Grealish injuries

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided fresh updated concerning the return timeframes of three of his injured first-team stars.

The City boss and his players have entered their first busy period of the new season, with midweek games in the UEFA Champions League and Carabao Cup now complimenting their weekend Premier League fixture commitments.

Following their Champions League group stage opener against Crvena zvezda at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City came away from the contest with yet another concern as Bernardo Silva was replaced towards the end of the first-half with an unknown fitness problem.

Speaking after the game, Pep Guardiola hinted at the Portugal international being ruled out for ‘the next games’, however no further details were provided and the expectation is that Bernardo Silva will be assessed by club medical staff on Thursday.

As part of his post-match debrief, Manchester City’s boss did however provide fresh timescales around the returns of his other injured first-team stars, including further doubts around John Stones in particular.

“A long time (out) for Kevin (De Bruyne), John (Stones) still didn’t play, (he’ll be out for) a little bit longer, Maybe (Mateo) Kova(cic) is coming back, Jack (Grealish), maybe in one week, 10 days he will be there,” Guardiola revealed. “We are in trouble, but it is what it is.”

Manchester City next go up against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon with five wins from their opening five games, before they travel to the north-east to take on fellow Champions League outfit Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup.

On a positive note for Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff, the swift transition of the club’s summer signings to the Manchester City style will come as a huge boost to their hopes of continuing to challenge while mainstays remain on the treatment table.

Matheus Nunes impressed in his full Manchester City debut on Tuesday night, commanding the centre of the park in a 3-1 win over Crvena zvezda, while Jeremy Doku has surprised Guardiola and other members of staff with his exemplary showings out wide.

Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic have proven to be reliable options when called upon too, and their ability to command their respective positions is likely to become even more crucial as the season progresses.