Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that defender John Stones is "not ready" to face rivals Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday lunchtime.
The 28-year-old missed City's disappointing 2-0 defeat against Southampton in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday, as he was not deemed fully fit to feature at St Mary's.
Stones has secured a regular starting spot under Guardiola in recent weeks, starting each of their last six league games, more than any other City defender during this period.
Indeed, the Englishman has been in fine form for the Citizens since the World Cup break and put in a man-of-the-match display in their most recent Premier League outing against Chelsea, winning 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on January 5.
However, the reigning Premier League champions will have to cope without their No.5 when they travel to Old Trafford on Saturday, with Guardiola confirming at his pre-match press conference that the defender is "not ready" to return.
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Guardiola has also said that "everyone else is fit" in his first-team squad, meaning there could be a return to the matchday squad for centre-back Ruben Dias.
The 25-year-old has not featured for the Citizens since he sustained a hamstring injury while on international duty with Portugal at the 2022 World Cup.
Dias is seemingly unlikely to be thrown straight into the starting lineup after several weeks on the sidelines, so Manuel Akanji, Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake are set to battle for a place in central defence.
Ake could be named at left-back, though, with Joao Cancelo having lost his regular starting place in recent weeks, while Sergio Gomez endured a difficult night against Southampton in midweek.
Man City head into the 189th Manchester derby sitting second in the Premier League table, five points behind leaders Arsenal, who face North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Guardiola understands the magnitude of Saturday's fixture, but believes that there are still plenty more games remaining in the race for the title.
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"Many games to play, of course it's a big week we cannot deny it. We play Spurs. Many games to play. After Southampton I'm not worried about the titles, it's to recover who we are game by game," Guardiola added.
"This is what we have to do, important games in the season we were there. Just with the hypothetical importance against teams, the other ones we were not there. It's normal after the results of previous seasons. We have to change it immediately."
Guardiola has also acknowledged Man United's improvements this season, with Erik ten Hag's side - sitting fourth in the table - winning all six games since the World Cup break.
"[United have improved] a lot, it's normal, a new manager arrives. The improvement is clear. Not just results," said the Spaniard.
"I have the feeling every time at Old Trafford or the Etihad it's been a difficult game. Always were attractive games, both teams want to try to do the game. A lot of quality players in both sides. Top class managers. Will be a good game."
City could move to within two points of Arsenal at the summit with a win on Saturday, while a win for United would see them move to within one point of their rivals in second.
Oliver Thomas
