Fresh off a 3-2 win over Newcastle Manchester City now heads into their midseason break. Pep Guardiola’s side will head to Abu Dhabi for a training camp after the players have a few days rest this week. The champions have several players currently out injured. Here is a look at the status of the players currently out injured as the champions begin their well-earned break.
Ederson
The Manchester City goalkeeper was substituted early in his side’s win over Newcastle. Pep Guardiola told the media post-game that Ederson suffered a knock and should be available after City’s break. He said: “He didn’t walk well as he left the pitch. But if it is just a knock he will be fine because we have a break for 10 days. If there is some damage, the doctors will tell me.”
It would appear that the City keeper will be available for his side’s FA Cup fourth-round tie against Tottenham.
John Stones
The England international has been sidelined with an ankle injury since the champion’s 3-1 win over Everton at Goodison Park.
Pep Guardiola was hopeful of having the defender back following his team’s break. The City manager hasn’t provided an exact timeline for Stones return but he was hopeful of having him back next month.
Manual Akanji
The Swiss international went off injured during the first half of Manchester City’s win against Huddersfield with a knee injury. He subsequently missed the treble winners’ win over Newcastle.
Guardiola told the media that he wasn’t expecting Akanji back until the end of January. When asked about the defender’s possible return he said: “Until the end of the month, yeah. I don’t know about the FA Cup against Spurs, or Burnley, if he’ll be ready.”
Erling Haaland
City’s goal-scoring machine was expected to return in time for last weekend’s match with Newcastle. But Pep Guardiola revealed that the striker had suffered a setback in his recovery from a foot issue. He has now missed the world champions’ past 9 games with the injury.
The treble winners are hopeful of the striker’s return after their midseason break. Guardiola told the media before his side’s win over Newcastle that City were hopeful of having Haaland back after the break. He said: “A little bit of a problem, a little bit of disturbance in his feet, and the doctors decided to stop (him training for) one week, and restart maybe in Abu Dhabi and hopefully, at the end of this month he’ll be ready.”
Jack Grealish
The winger was in doubt for the weekend’s win over Newcastle due to illness. He took his place on the bench as he got through training on Friday before the game.
Providing there are no complications with illness for Grealish he should be back in contention for a starting role against Tottenham in the FA Cup fourth-round tie.
