Manchester City have been handed a fitness boost as they prepare for two massive games in less than 72 hours.
Man City begin their Champions League campaign at home to Serie A champions Napoli on Thursday and then face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
As the Man City squad trained at their football academy base on Wednesday, there was a welcome sight in the session which bodes well ahead of that huge Premier League showdown in particular.
Central defender John Stones appears to be winning his race to be fit for City having returned to training on the eve of the Napoli fixture.
Stones missed Sunday’s 3-0 win in the Manchester derby after failing to recover from the knock that forced him to withdraw from the England squad for their World Cup qualification double-header with Andorra and Serbia.
Pep Guardiola said at the weekend that the defender’s issue wasn’t “big” but that he was a “doubt” to face Manchester United.
Read More
Stones’ absence did not impact City against their arch-rivals as the central defensive pairing of Ruben Dias and the fit-again Josko Gvardiol managed to contain Benjamin Sesko en route to keeping a clean sheet.
Back in training: John Stones
Getty Images
But Stones resumed full training with the group on Wednesday and will be hopeful of making a comeback this week.
His return would be a major boost for Man City as Guardiola can perhaps rotate his centre backs with the Arsenal game in mind as they look to avenge last season’s 5-1 loss at the Emirates.
Rayan Cherki, Mateo Kovavic, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush did not train with the Man City squad and are all set to remained sidelined for both games this week.
