Bournemouthvs.Man City

The Citizens entered the international break after dropping five points across two Premier League games, losing 1-0 at Nottingham Forest before playing out an entertaining 2-2 home draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Goalkeeper Ederson suffered an abdominal injury in the defeat to Forest and subsequently missed the draw with Brighton before withdrawing from the Brazil squad over the international break.

However, Guardiola has confirmed that the 31-year-old is available for selection this weekend and has taken part in training ahead of the trip to Bournemouth.

"Yeah, good, he trained the last two days," Guardiola said at a press conference on Friday before adding that "We'll see tomorrow" whether Ederson or Stefan Ortega will start in goal.

Providing a general fitness update on the remaining players in his squad following the international break, Guardiola said: "Some of [the players] returned a little more tired and need recovery."

Guardiola issues latest Man City injury update

Earlier this week, concerns had emerged over the fitness of Josko Gvardiol who was taken off midway through extra time in Croatia's UEFA Nations League quarter-final with France, which ended in defeat on penalties, as the defender "had an injury problem" according to manager Zlatko Dalic.

However, Gvardiol's issue does not appear to be a serious one and he could therefore feature in some capacity on Sunday.

After more than seven months out recovering from a leg fracture and then a minor ankle problem, Oscar Bobb played for 60 minutes for Man City's Elite Development squad in a 3-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace in Premier League 2 a fortnight ago.

Guardiola is hopeful that the attacker will soon make his long-awaited comeback, but four Citizens players who remain unavailable for selection are Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, John Stones and Rodri.

Rodri, who sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury back in September last year, has returned to individual training, but Guardiola has said that the club will be careful with the Ballon d'Or winner's return to ensure he does not suffer any setbacks.

Guardiola delivers latest update on Rodri's recovery

Asked whether Rodri could return in time for Man City's FIFA Club World Cup campaign, which begins in mid-June, Guardiola said: "I don't know, I hope and wish.

"It will be nice if he could play tomorrow but we don't want to do a wrong decision right now and take a step back.

"The doctor says he's injured for six, seven months. He's behaving really well on the pitch already.

"Competitive [football] is completely different. We will see. I rely on what the physio doctor says.

"We don't want to use him for two weeks and then not have him for a long time afterwards. We have to make sure that he's fine."

Earlier this month, Guardiola insisted that Man City would not make "stupid decisions" in Rodri's recovery, but the Catalan opened the door to the midfielder returning before the season draws to a close.

Man City's primary focus is now on beating Bournemouth and progressing to the FA Cup semi-finals for a record seventh consecutive season, but Citizens expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole that "there's a real good chance Man City could go out".

Written by

Oliver Thomas