Manchester City defender returns to full international team training following fitness concern

Coaches at Manchester City have been buoyed by the return of one of Pep Guardiola’s first-team stars to training with his national side following a brief concern over fitness.

Up to 18 members of Pep Guardiola’s first-team Manchester City squad are currently away from club duties and representing their respective international sides over the next two weeks in a range of competitive and non-competitive fixtures.

While there are some international friendly matches scheduled for the next fortnight, the large majority of Manchester City’s stars will be embarking on European Championship and FIFA World Cup qualification ties.

However, the week started with concern for Manchester City as Kyle Walker was noted as absent from England’s opening training session ahead of their international friendly clash with Australia on Friday night.

Now, as per Sky Sports cameras on the ground at England’s training camp this week, Manchester City’s vice-captain Kyle Walker has returned to full squad training with the rest of Gareth Southgate’s squad.

It was made clear earlier this week that Walker was simply following his own individual training programme as opposed to training with the rest of the England squad, with the Manchester City defender continuing his recovery from their most recent outing.

City entered the international break off the back of a disappointing 1-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, making it three successive domestic defeats for Pep Guardiola and his players.

Following the conclusion of the international break however, Rodri will return to domestic availability for Manchester City, having served a three-match ban for violent conduct during the 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest last month.