Four Manchester City players battling illness ahead of FA Cup third round tie, says Pep Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that four members of his first-team squad are in doubt for the meeting with Huddersfield Town through illness.

The latest development on the Manchester City squad comes just days after Guardiola and his coaching staff had been buoyed by the return of Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku following respective injury problems in recent weeks.

The attacking duo joined the returning Kevin De Bruyne in first-team training on Wednesday afternoon, while the Club simultaneously contend with a potential long-term problem for versatile centre-back John Stones.

Speaking to the media ahead of Sunday afternoon’s meeting with the Terriers, Pep Guardiola revealed that Kalvin Phillips – who could leave the club this month – is a doubt, despite a rare opportunity to earn a start for the club.

“Kalvin (Phillips) has congestion or fever, and we have a few (with it) unfortunately,” Guardiola revealed, whilst also detailing that the England international midfielder had missed the last five to six training sessions due to the ongoing problem.

“Four players have problems,” he continued. “Bernardo (Silva), and Scotty (Carson), and Kalvin, and Matheus (Nunes), like many people I think in this time, are suffering.”

Manchester City could also be without defensive midfield mainstay Rodrigo, as the Spanish international deals with the passing of his grandmother alongside family members in Madrid on Friday and Saturday.

When questioned as to whether the 27-year-old would be granted an extended period of compassionate leave away from the football club, Pep Guardiola admitted that while he hopes to have the player in contention on Sunday, family is more important than anything.