Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Nathan Ake will be available for Wednesday's Premier League clash at home against West Ham United, but Kevin De Bruyne is a doubt.
Ake has missed the last three matches in all competitions since pulling his hamstring in the Champions League quarter-final second-leg tie with Bayern Munich last month.
De Bruyne, meanwhile, was absent from the 2-1 Premier League victory away against Fulham on Sunday, with Guardiola citing that the playmaker had picked up an injury.
"He doesn't feel good. He has some injury and could not travel," Guardiola told Sky Sports before kickoff at Craven Cottage.
The severity of De Bruyne's injury is unknown, but Guardiola has revealed that the Belgian is yet to train with the first team, while Ake has trained and is fit to return to the matchday squad on Wednesday.
© Reuters
Providing an injury update at a press conference on Tuesday, Guardiola said: "Nathan trained with us yesterday, he feels good. Kevin has started to move, but didn't train with the team. We have training in a few hours and we will see.
Guardiola has acknowledged that Ake will be in contention to face West Ham, but has suggested that De Bruyne will need assessing ahead of City's 4pm training session this afternoon.
Both Ake and De Bruyne have been standout performers for the Citizens this season, with the former in particular coming on leaps and bounds on the left side of Guardiola's back four.
Manuel Akanji has impressed as a makeshift left-back in Ake's absence, and he could continue in the first XI if the latter is not deemed fully fit to start against West Ham.
Meanwhile, Julian Alvarez starred as De Bruyne's replacement against Fulham, scoring a stunning goal from outside the area, and the Argentine World Cup winner will be hoping to retain his place in attack alongside goal machine Erling Braut Haaland.
Man City currently sit one point clear at the top of the Premier League table, but they could be tasked with climbing to the summit again if title rivals Arsenal beat Chelsea on Tuesday night.
© Reuters
The treble-chasing Citizens are now preparing for a busy fixture schedule, with eight games coming up in the month of May, and Guardiola believes that his side have the experience to cope with the physical and mental demands.
Asked if he and his squad are tired, Guardiola said: "I'm tired, but it's not my legs! We've been in this situation of playing six or seven games in one month for six or seven years. The mental strength will be there, and this is the best period we want to be in. We are not tired. We have six games left and we have to go for it."
Guardiola has insisted that David Moyes's West Ham side - who remain embroiled in a relegation dogfight - can cause problems to his City side on Wednesday and has talked up the qualities of Hammers captain Declan Rice, who has been linked with a possible switch to the Etihad Stadium as well as other top Premier League clubs.
"[West Ham] have not had the season they expected but that does not mean the quality is not there," said the Catalan boss. "I've reviewed their games against Liverpool, Arsenal and the one against us earlier this season, and the quality is there.
"Declan Rice is an exceptional player. The quality is there in the team so we will have to be absolutely ready.
"Set pieces, they are maybe one of the best, scored three against Crystal Palace, [Michail] Antonio attacks the channels. The weapons are there. The team is there, I don't have any doubts. In one game, anything can happen so we have to be ready."
Man City are unbeaten in 14 Premier League meetings with West Ham and have won 11 times in the process, including a 2-0 victory at the London Stadium back in August on the opening day of the season.
No Data Analysis info
Germany
Switzerland
Hungary
Scotland
Spain
Italy
Croatia
Albania
England
Denmark
Slovenia
Serbia
Austria
France
Netherlands
Poland
Romania
Belgium
Slovakia
Ukraine
Portugal
Turkey
Georgia
Czech Republic