Pep Guardiola has been given an injury boost ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash against Brighton & Hove Albion with John Stones being pictured in training this week.
The 28-year-old has been out of action all month due to a hamstring injury, missing three Premier League games and two Champions League outings, but he could be in the matchday squad this weekend after recovering.
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Stones has made seven appearances in all competitions this season, scoring one goal with two assists. The England international’s last outing was Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on September 17.
Guardiola turned to Aymeric Laporte, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake in Stones’ absence, but he will now have all five centre-backs at his disposal.
It’s unlikely the 28-year-old will get on the pitch against Brighton as he’ll be short of match fitness, but he might be given an opportunity against Borussia Dortmund in Tuesday’s Champions League clash.
Laporte has been on the bench since making his own return from injury, so he’ll be clamouring to feature too. Dias partnered Akanji in Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool, so might Guardiola make changes at the back?
In other news, Pep Guardiola tipped to offload Ilkay Gundogan next summer
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