Aymeric Laporte played for 80 minutes in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Chelsea on Wednesday but was substituted late on after picking up a knock.
Joe Bray of the Manchester Evening News noted that the 28-year-old went down after clearing a ball and was instructing his teammates not to pass to him, so he may not be 100% ahead of Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Brentford.
Man City v Brentford: What will the outcome be?
Man City to win
Draw
Brentford to win
Pep Guardiola used Nathan Ake alongside Manuel Akanji for league games, switching to Laporte and Ruben Dias for the cup competition, so he might be rested against the Bees.
He said of Laporte’s injury after the EFL Cup victory: “He felt (something). I think he is okay, but in the last (few) minutes (there was) some discomfort and we made a substitution.”
Laporte has been short of playing time this campaign due to a knee injury from last season. He didn’t make an appearance in 2022/23 until early-October and has only started two league games from the last six. The Spanish international was an unused substitute in last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Fulham too.
Saturday’s meeting with Brentford is City’s last game before the World Cup break, and Laporte is in Spain’s squad, so he won’t be risked if it isn’t necessary.
Guardiola still has four other centre-backs he can call upon, including a left-footer in Ake, so City will be at their strongest regardless.
In other news, Pep Guardiola reveals whether Erling Haaland could face Brentford
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