Manchester City Injury Update as Spurs Clash Looms Amid International Duty Fatigue
Manchester City return to Premier League action this weekend with a crucial match against Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium. While Pep Guardiola has welcomed the return of several injured stars to training, the international break has created new challenges for the City boss.
City have endured a difficult campaign marred by injuries, contributing to their recent slump of four consecutive losses in all competitions. However, there’s good news as John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, and Matheus Nunes, all of whom withdrew from international duties due to fitness concerns, were spotted training this week. Additionally, Kevin De Bruyne, who opted out of Belgium’s matches to focus on his recovery, has been active at City’s training ground during the break.
These returns offer Guardiola a much-needed boost after weeks of relying on a stretched squad. However, not all news from the international fixtures is positive, with several City players logging heavy minutes for their respective national teams.
Concerns Over Key Players on International Duty
Kyle Walker, who has been managing fitness issues throughout the season, started both of England’s games under interim manager Lee Carsley. The 34-year-old played a full 90 minutes against Greece and an hour against the Republic of Ireland, despite his recent struggles with injuries.
Erling Haaland continued his red-hot form, scoring four goals across two games for Norway, but was afforded just seven minutes of rest across both matches. Similarly, defensive stalwart Josko Gvardiol, already overworked due to injuries in City’s backline, played two full 90-minute matches for Croatia. His club and national teammate, Mateo Kovacic, also featured heavily, completing 135 minutes across two fixtures.
On a more positive note, Rico Lewis and Bernardo Silva were only used sparingly for their countries, featuring in just one match each. Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega did not play at all for Germany, providing some relief for Guardiola.
The Brazilian Factor
Brazilian internationals Ederson and Savinho were among the last players to finish their international commitments. Ederson played the full 180 minutes across two matches, while Savinho racked up 139 minutes. Both were involved in Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers, with their second game finishing in the early hours of Wednesday morning UK time, leaving little recovery time before returning to Manchester.
Selection Dilemmas Ahead of a Hectic Period
Despite the reinforcements in training, Guardiola faces a tricky balancing act. With travel fatigue, match intensity, and fitness risks looming large, the City manager must decide how to rotate his squad for the Spurs game while keeping players fresh for the grueling winter schedule.
The clash against Tottenham marks the start of a packed fixture list for Manchester City, and Guardiola will be hoping his squad can find the form and fitness needed to climb back to the top of the table.
