Manchester City travel to North London to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday and will be without John Stones after he was ruled out for up to a month with a hamstring injury, so Aymeric Laporte might be in line to make only his fifth start in the league this campaign.
The 28-year-old has made 13 appearances in all competitions, amassing 375 minutes of football in the Premier League. Laporte missed the start of the season due to injury and found himself behind Stones, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji in the pecking order upon his return, so opportunities have been limited.
Guardiola likes to pair a left-footed centre-back with a right-footer in defence, so Ake or Laporte would be getting the nod alongside Akanji, Stones or Ruben Dias. But with Ake expected to start in a makeshift left-back role following the departure of Joao Cancelo, Pep has little choice but to call upon Laporte instead.
The Spanish international made just one league appearance in November and December but has featured more frequently in January – 90 mins in FA Cup win over Chelsea (January 8), 90 minus in EFL Cup defeat to Southampton (January 11), 90 mins in 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers (January 22), 45 minutes in FA Cup win over Arsenal (January 27) – so he should be a safe bet.
In other news, Pep Guardiola gives injury update on Phil Foden
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