Manchester City lock horns with Borussia Dortmund in Tuesday’s Champions League clash, but Pep Guardiola has been given a boost with John Stones returning to training days ago and making the squad in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
BBC Sport say the 28-year-old ‘could play’ against the Bundesliga champions after recovering from injury, so Stones might be handed his first appearance in well over a month.
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The England international has made seven appearances in all competitions this season, scoring one goal with two assists – Stones’ last outing for City was in September’s 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
He would miss seven games for City before being an unused substitute against Brighton and could be handed a start in Europe.
Pep Guardiola isn’t short of options with Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake at his disposal, but BBC Sport think Stones will get an opportunity.
Laporte or Ake would provide better balance than Stones as they’re left-footers who would complement Dias. Akanji is likely to start at right-back, so he won’t be available centrally.
Nevertheless, Guardiola will be pleased to have one player back from injury and in a position to play after a month on the sidelines.
In other news, Pep Guardiola should consider Theo Hernandez to solve left-back problem at Man City
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