Pep Guardiola gave a positive injury update on Kyle Walker ahead of Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Aston Villa, revealing the 31-year-old had returned to training and was in contention of featuring against the Midlands outfit.
He said in Friday’s pre-match press conference: “We have incredible doctors and physios. (He has) trained (Friday). We will see (on Saturday). It is good for us to have (him) back.” Walker has missed City’s last six league games due to a ankle injury.
The England international’s last appearance for the Sky Blues came in April’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool. He’s since missed their 3-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion, 5-1 win over Watford, 4-0 win over Leeds United, 5-0 win over Newcastle United, 5-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers and 2-2 draw with West Ham United.
Guardiola has Joao Cancelo who can operate at right-back while Oleksandr Zinchenko can keep his spot on the left, so he need not change his fullbacks just to get Walker. The 31-year-old won’t be fully fit, so he’s not a better option than what Pep currently has.
With five wins and one draw from their last six games, they haven’t missed Walker, so why fix it if it ain’t broke?
In other news, Pep Guardiola could start 25 y/o Man City man v Aston Villa after injury update