Manchester City receive double fitness update in major boost ahead of RB Leipzig and Arsenal clashes

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have been boosted by two fresh fitness updates concerning first-team stars this week ahead of two crucial clashes.

The European and Premier League champions take on two matches in both competitions that will play significant roles in their attempted defences of both trophies this week, despite the early stage of the campaign.

Manchester City travel to Germany on Tuesday afternoon ahead of matchday two in the UEFA Champions League group stage on Wednesday night, as they face RB Leipzig in Germany looking to go three points clear at the top of the division.

Following the clash in east Germany, City will then return to England to finalise preparations ahead of a match-up against last season’s Premier League title challengers Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

On the eve of both matches, Manchester City and particularly Pep Guardiola has received a significant boost to his first-team options, with the return of two crucial stars following respective injury problems.

As per Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News, Manchester City have been boosted by the timely returns of both Bernardo Silva and John Stones to first-team training on Tuesday morning.

Stones has not featured for Manchester City in competitive action since the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal in early August, having sustained a hamstring problem during the aftermath of the UEFA Super Cup win against Sevilla in Athens.

With Rodri completing his three-game ban against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon, there is a further belief in some quarters that Pep Guardiola could look to utilise Stones in the lone defensive midfield role, although no decision has yet been made.

As for Bernardo Silva, the Portugal international’s last outing was on matchday one of the Champions League group stage when he was replaced prior to the half-time interval against Red Star Belgrade with an injury concern.

Pep Guardiola is likely to provide a deeper update on the pair during his pre-match press conference ahead of the Champions League clash with RB Leipzig on Wednesday night.