Aymeric Laporte has returned to training ahead of Manchester City’s meeting with Borussia Dortmund but may not be fit enough to make the matchday squad after a lengthy injury layout. Pep Guardiola revealed he should be back out on the pitch in October after talking with the club’s medical professional, however.
Manchester City v Borussia Dortmund: What will the outcome be?
Man City to win
Draw
Dortmund to win
The City manager said in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference: “I spoke to the doctor and in general he is going really well. After the international break, he will be ready for us to think about using him.” Laporte hasn’t made an appearance this season due to his knee, so he’ll be considerably short of match fitness.
The 28-year-old was a regular in 2021/22 and will be determined to get back into the starting eleven, but he has stiff competition for playing time – Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Manuel Akanji. It remains to be seen whether Laporte will travel to face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, so his official return may be in early-October.
Guardiola doesn’t need the Spanish international to sit on the bench as he’s already spoilt for choice at centre-back, so Laporte might miss Wednesday’s clash. He won’t be in any condition to play with one full session under his belt, so it might be sensible to rest him until next month – Akanji, Dias, Ake and the returning Stones are good enough for now.
In other news, Ilkay Gundogan gives praise for summer signing Erling Haaland