Injury-Hit Man City Heads to Sporting CP for Champions League, Missing Key Players as Ruben Amorim Awaits Manchester United Move
Manchester City faces a challenging Champions League clash against Sporting CP this week, just as the club grapples with an injury crisis and back-to-back losses. The game will also mark the final home fixture for Ruben Amorim with Sporting, as he prepares to take over as Manchester United manager.
John Stones was absent from training on Monday due to a plantar fasciitis issue that also kept him out against Bournemouth. Pep Guardiola confirmed that Stones, along with Ruben Dias—sidelined by a muscle problem—will miss the upcoming two games. Additionally, Rodri and Oscar Bobb are still unavailable, and Jack Grealish remains out as he works through his own injury setback.
There was some positive news for City as Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker trained, following their weekend returns. However, Guardiola cautioned that neither player is yet at full fitness.
The Blues’ trip to Sporting comes after a tough week that included losses to Tottenham and Bournemouth, pushing City’s resilience as they head to Lisbon and then Brighton before the international break. With several stars unavailable or not at full capacity, Guardiola called on younger players in Monday’s training session, some of whom may join the squad for the Sporting match.
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey—a regular in recent matchday squads—was seen training, as were Jacob Wright and the recently fit-again Josh Wilson-Esbrand. Striker Will Dickson and defender Seb Naylor also joined training but may not travel with the team.
Full Man City training squad: Ederson, Ortega, Carson, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Lewis, Walker, Kovacic, Gundogan, Nunes, Bernardo, De Bruyne, Foden, Savinho, Doku, McAtee, Haaland, O’Reilly, Simpson-Pusey, Wright, Dickson, Naylor, Wilson-Esbrand.
