Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has offered insight into his squad’s injury status ahead of Saturday’s trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Cityzens are the only Premier League side with a perfect record this season, winning all six games, scoring 16 times and conceding just three goals.
Guardiola’s side are in terrific form although they suffered their first defeat of the season in Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to Newcastle United in the League Cup third round.
The Spanish manager will be keen for his side to return to winning ways when they travel to the Midlands this weekend, but Man City will not be at full strength with a couple of players expected to miss the clash.
Guardiola has confirmed that John Stones is nearing a return from injury, but the Wolves game will come too soon for the Englishman, who is yet to make his Premier League debut this season.
Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, who are also key players in Guardiola’s system, remain confined to the treatment room with injury problems.
“We have training this afternoon,” Guardiola told reporters in his pre-match press conference.
“John is not ready. Kevin is not ready. Bernardo is not okay – I think the rest are fine though maybe someone else that I don’t have in my mind.
Man City will also be without Rodri, who is serving a three-match suspension after picking up a straight red card in the 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest last weekend.
Guardiola insists there will be no protests about Rodri’s suspension on his part and urged his side to forge ahead in the absence of the players who will sit out the weekend encounter.
“It is what it is,” Guardiola added. “It’s a pity, but if you are not available, you are not. I have to find a solution. I am not here to complain.
“Just for the fact the number of minutes he has played and the consistency in many things – of course, he is not easy to replace.”
Kalvin Phillips will be hoping to retain his place in the starting XI after making his first start of the season in the defeat to Newcastle.
