Manchester City’s return from the international break is supported by Pep Guardiola signing a new contract and the possible return from injury of many key stars.
Guardiola is set to sign a new one-year contract, with an option for a further 12 months, to extend his stay at the club beyond a decade.
It’s dream news for the club amid their ongoing legal battle with the Premier League, and more good news arrived on Wednesday with the return to training of a key quarter.
Here’s all the latest Man City injury news and return dates ahead of the Premier League’s final restart this weekend.
Phil Foden
Phil Foden was among nine total withdrawals from Lee Carsley’s latest England squad for the Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland last week.
However, a knock suffered in the defeat to Brighton was not serious and he returned to training this week ahead of facing Carabao Cup winners Spurs, who travel to the Etihad Stadium for a top-flight rematch level this weekend.
Potential return date: Saturday November 23, against Tottenham
Rubén Dias
Ruben Dias has not played for City since that 2-1 defeat to Spurs on October 30 which saw them denied a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
A muscle injury was later confirmed to be a calf problem and he did not start with Portugal for the Nations League matches against Poland and Croatia.
Guardiola confirmed earlier in November that he hoped Dias would be back after the international break, although it remains to be seen at this stage whether he will be fit enough to be involved against Spurs.
Potential return date: Saturday November 23, against Tottenham
Jeremy Doku
Winger Jeremy Doku is currently suffering from a quad injury, having missed the Brighton game and then being withdrawn from the Belgium squad for the matches against Italy and Israel.
“He has muscular problems in his quadriceps,” Guardiola said recently about Doku. “He doesn’t feel well, he can’t run at full speed. (After the international break?) When we arrive, we will do a test, and we will make a selection, and we will see how they feel.
Doku may have to wait a little longer before he can return to action for City, although a quick recovery could still put him in contention this weekend.
Potential return date: Saturday November 23, against Tottenham
John Stones
City’s injury crisis is particularly serious at the back, with John Stones, like his defensive colleague Dias, having missed the last three games in all competitions.
Stones has also not been involved for England due to a foot problem, with Guardiola saying earlier this month: “John has a fasciitis splinter in his feet and today he wasn’t ready. I don’t know if he will be back for the next two games.
But Stones was spotted in training on Wednesday, putting him in contention to face Spurs.
Potential return date: Saturday November 23, against Tottenham
Jack Grealish
Another City international withdrawal, Grealish also had no involvement for England in the last run of matches, having been kept out since the dramatic 2-1 win over Wolves on October 20.
Guardiola was furious that the former Aston Villa star was called in first by interim boss Carsley following his recent fitness problems, fuming at a press conference: ‘In 17 days he hasn’t It’s not trained just once. Today was the first practice and he practiced for 20 minutes. This is reality.
Grealish was able to join his teammates in training on Wednesday, hinting at a return this weekend.
Potential return date: Unknown
Manuel Akanji
Manuel Akanji is another defensive injury problem for City, having withdrawn from the Swiss squad for the matches against Serbia and Spain.
Guardiola said before the Brighton game Akanji missed: “Manu said [on Friday]“I felt so bad during training and couldn’t move properly,” and against this team [Brighton] I prefer fresh people.
Akanji was with the squad at first-team training on Wednesday.
Potential return date: Saturday November 23, against Tottenham
Matheus Nunes
Matheus Nunes withdrew from international matches early last week like Akanji, with Portugal deeming him “medically unfit”.
However, the former Wolves midfielder has recently played for City and will hope to shake off this recent knock in time to be involved against Spurs.
Potential return date: Saturday November 23, against Tottenham
Oscar Bob
Oscar Bobb saw a potential breakout campaign at City disrupted early on after suffering a broken leg during a training session in August.
The Norwegian winger then traveled to Barcelona for surgery and was ruled out for three to four months, with the hope of being able to play again before Christmas.
However, this timetable has since been revised and extended, with Guardiola saying in late October: “Oscar, I think, January or February, he will be ready. »
Potential return date: January or February 2025
Nathan Aké
Nathan Ake has been struggling with hamstring injuries of late and saw his return from a near two-month absence last just three games before another issue kept him sidelined since the loss to his former club Bournemouth on November 2.
Ake was left out of the Netherlands’ final squad for the matches against Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Guardiola commenting before the Brighton defeat: “Yes, he’s improving. He’s not in great shape yet, but he’s getting better.
If Spurs arrive too early for Ake, he will hope to play a role against Feyenoord or Liverpool in City’s next two matches.
Potential return date: Tuesday November 26, against Feyenoord
Rodri
The main cause of what City are currently suffering is of course the absence of Rodri, with the new Ballon d’Or winner having suffered a serious knee injury against Arsenal in September which required surgery and saw him ruled out for the rest of the season. .
Although any potential return is still several months away, the Spaniard insists he aims to return to the field before the end of a long campaign.
“My goal is to play this season,” he said last week. “Now the seasons are getting longer and the Club World Cup ends on July 13. I’m thinking of going back this year, as a challenge.
“I’ve already started walking and I feel better mentally than I thought.”
Potential return date: summer 2025