Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided an update on the fitness of his squad ahead of Wednesday's Champions League playoff second-leg clash with Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Citizens let a one-goal lead slip with just five minutes remaining to lose 3-2 to Los Blancos in last week's first leg at the Etihad Stadium where both Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji were forced off with muscle injuries.
While Akanji has since undergone abductor surgery and is facing eight to 10 weeks on the sidelines, Grealish was a notable absentee as Man City put Newcastle United to the sword 4-0 in the Premier League last Saturday.
Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake also missed the win over the Magpies as they were 'not fully fit' to play, just a few days after starting for City in the first-leg loss to Real Madrid.
Erling Haaland, meanwhile, was nursing a knee problem towards the end of the victory against Newcastle, but the Norwegian's issue is not a serious one and he, along with Dias, Ake and Grealish, took part in team training on Tuesday.
Man City have since confirmed that all four players have been included in Guardiola's 22-man squad for the second leg, but a late decision will be made on whether any of the quartet will start the second leg.
© Imago
Man City receive quadruple injury boost before Real Madrid clash
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday evening about Haaland, Dias, Ake and Grealish, Guardiola said: "Yes they have travelled, we will see tomorrow but it's good news they are here."
On Grealish, Guardiola added: "He was able to play a really good game in the FA Cup, but he doesn't have the consistency to play three games a week, he was not able to do it. Hopefully, now, he is able to for the last few months of the season he can get it."
Haaland, who is out to make Champions League history on Wednesday, is seemingly the most likely of the quartet to start, and he could be joined in attack by new signing Omar Marmoush, who scored a 14-minute first-half hat-trick in City's win over Newcastle.
Marmoush could operate on the left flank if Grealish is not deemed fit to start, while Savinho, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku and Bernardo Silva are other wide options available to Guardiola.
In defence, Guardiola will weigh up whether to recall Dias and Ake in central defence or stick with John Stones and Abdukodir Khusanov, who played the full 90 minutes against Newcastle and helped City keep a rare clean sheet.
With Akanji ruled out through injury, Guardiola must also select a new right-back for the second leg, with Rico Lewis - who replaced Akanji at half time in the first leg - Matheus Nunes, Khusanov and Stones all seemingly in contention to start on the right side of defence, the latter of whom began the first leg in midfield, though, and could continue there on Wednesday.
Man City's 22-man travelling squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Ederson, Stefan Ortega, Scott Carson
Defenders: Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Abdukodir Khusanov, Josko Gvardiol, Rico Lewis
Midfielders: Nico Gonzalez, Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, James McAtee, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, Savinho
Forwards: Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush
Oliver Thomas
