MX23RW : Tuesday, January 7 07:48:35| >> :120:19778:19778:

Nathan Ake returns for fully-fit Manchester City ahead of derby

The availability of defender Nathan Ake after a muscular problem means the leaders now have no players in the treatment room.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has a fully-fit squad available for the first time this season as he prepares for Sunday's derby against Manchester United.

The return of defender Nathan Ake after a muscular problem this week means the Premier League leaders now have no players in the treatment room.

It is a boost for quadruple-chasing City as they look to extend their 14-point advantage over second-placed United in the fixture at the Etihad Stadium.

It will be the first time this season Guardiola has had his full squad to choose from
It will be the first time this season Guardiola has had his full squad to choose from (Michael Regan/PA)

City boss Guardiola said: "Good news for us, Nathan is back. He made part of the training session and felt really good.

"Everyone is fully fit and that is important for the next few weeks ahead of the international break, and hopefully the people will come back well after that."

The fixture is important in the context of the title race and Guardiola expects it to be a difficult encounter.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Guardiola said: "This game is important – like the previous one, the previous one and the next one will be.

"Focus on one at a time, not on how many points we have but I know how difficult United are.

City have a 14-point lead over United in the table
City have a 14-point lead over United in the table (Shaun Botterill/PA)

"We have experienced that in the last years and I have the feeling that every year they are a better team than the previous season.

"They are a team with quality and for more than one year they have not lost away, and they have good results at the Etihad Stadium.

"But at the same time we know the opportunity we have to increase the distance.

"We spoke in training about what we have to do to beat them on the pitch and the way we want to play."

ID:437936: cacheID:437936:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5814:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester City's Joao Cancelo and teammates remonstrate with referee Chris Kavanagh against Manchester United in the Premier League on December 12, 2020
Read Next:
Premier League gameweek 27 predictions including Man City vs. Manchester United
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest20124429191040
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2044123145-1416
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!