Pep Guardiola provides key fitness updates ahead of Tottenham clash

Pep Guardiola has provided updates on the fitness levels in the Manchester City squad ahead of the Treble winners’ Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

Manchester City have not been immune to the ongoing injury bug around European football. The tightly-packed fixture lists across the continent have resulted in a flurry of major injuries for some of football’s biggest stars.

For Manchester City however, they have been without the services of John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, and Matheus Nunes for large stretches of the autumn fixtures, all the while still missing talisman Kevin De Bruyne with a long-term hamstring injury.

But as Pep Guaradiola’s side begin to dip their toes into the brutal stretch of fixtures in the winter period, there may be some good news on the fitness front.

While City have been without John Stones since the defender picked up a lower-body injury against Young Boys in the Champions League almost a month ago, Guardiola confirmed that the dynamic centre-back will be in the matchday squad this weekend.

“Much better, close to coming back. He [John Stones] will be with us, I don’t know if he’ll play but he’ll be there.”

In midfield however, the loss of Kevin De Bruyne was masked by the summer additions of Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes, but the pair have dealt with injuries throughout the autumn.

“Mateo [Kovacic] is back, training well,” Guardiola said. Matheus [Nunes] is in the last days (of recovery).”

Regaining full fitness in the squad will be imperative to Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes. While they sit one point behind league leaders Arsenal, the Blues will face stiff competition at the top throughout the 2023/24 campaign.

Luckily for the Pep Guardiola, his side have already cemented first place in their UEFA Champions League group, allowing the City boss a window to rest some of his star players coming up.