Manchester City return to Champions League action on Wednesday evening after recording successive domestic defeats for the first time since January.
14.09.2023 - 16:37 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Pep Guardiola could be without three key players for Manchester City's Premier League trip to West Ham on Saturday.
Guardiola is back in Manchester after missing three weeks having undergone back surgery, with his international players returning on Wednesday and Thursday ahead of City's away clash at the London Stadium.
However, while Guardiola was back from his own injury, there were three key figures missing on Thursday as Mateo Kovacic joined John Stones and Jack Grealish on the injury list.
Stones has been out since the start of the season, with the international break earmarked for his return. Before the Fulham game two weeks ago, assistant manager Juanma Lillo had said Stones was 'more or less' there in terms of his fitness.
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However, Stones was left out of the England squad and does not appear to have returned to training, according to Sky Sports News, who were watching training on Thursday.
Also absent was Grealish, who missed the Fulham win with a minor thigh injury, and then withdrew from the England camp after consulting with the Three Lions' medical staff on the first day of camp. As other England players returned on Thursday, Grealish was not part of training, raising concerns that he is not recovered from his injury.
Finally, Kovacic was missing having not played a minute for Croatia on international duty. Kovacic and his national team manager Zlatko Dalic had confirmed he sat out their win over Latvia with a back issue, but had hoped he could face Armenia in their second game.
However, Kovacic was an unused substitute in that win over Armenia, with reports in Croatia suggesting the back issue required scans and could see the
Manchester City return to Champions League action on Wednesday evening after recording successive domestic defeats for the first time since January.
Manchester City is set to face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux in their pursuit of a seventh consecutive Premier League victory. After achieving a historic treble last season, the star-studded Sky Blues have made an impeccable start as they aim for an unprecedented fourth consecutive top-flight title.
Manchester City will be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday afternoon when they face Wolves in the Premier League.
Matheus Nunes returns to Wolves on Saturday for the first time since his acrimonious exit in the summer and wants to set the record straight - starting with an apology.The £53m deadline day signing for Manchester City stopped training at Wolves to try and get the transfer over the line, prompting a backlash from fans and negative comments from their manager and Sporting Director. For that, he is ready to say sorry to his former club, as he expressed regret at how he left things at Molineux.Ahead of City's Premier League clash at Molineux on Saturday, Nunes broke his silence on his final days at Wolves, saying he couldn't afford to turn down a move to the Etihad as he simply did not know if the 'dream' opportunity would come again.
Jack Grealish is back from injury, but is not guaranteed to walk straight back into the Manchester City starting XI.
Bernardo Silva won't be fit to return for Manchester City at Wolves this weekend and the Blues will also be without John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne for the trip to Molineux.
Manchester City have spent the day refocusing after suffering their first defeat since the Community Shield at the beginning of August, on Wednesday night.
Manchester City extended their perfect start to the season with a hard-fought 2-0 win at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is expected to shuffle his star-studded pack for their Carabao Cup third-round tie against Newcastle United on Wednesday night (8pm).
Manchester City are poised to welcome back Mateo Kovacic for the Carabao Cup third-round tie with Newcastle United at St James' Park on Wednesday night (8pm).
Phil Foden’s opening goal in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest saw 46 consecutive passes put together in what was almost a new Premier League record.
Pep Guardiola is likely to tinker with his Manchester City side when Nottingham Forest visit the Etihad Stadium this weekend.
Oscar Bobb is aiming to follow in the footsteps of Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden at Manchester City.
Manchester City have mounting injury problems after Bernardo Silva was forced off for the treble-winners during their Champions League victory against Crvena Zvezda on Tuesday night.
Bernardo Silva will be assessed at Manchester City on Thursday amid early hopes over the injury.
Pep Guardiola says Bernardo Silva was injured as he was substituted in the first half of Manchester City's Champions League win over Crvena Zvezda on Tuesday.
Pep Guardiola is hopeful that he can call on more players for the Nottingham Forest game on Saturday as Manchester City struggle with injuries.
Manchester City will be aiming to maintain their 100 per cent record this weekend when they travel to the London Stadium to take on West Ham United. Guardiola's side have a perfect record so far after victories against Burnley, Newcastle, Sheffield United and Fulham have seen the Blues catapulted to the top of the table.
Manchester City are a stronger team after replacing their four outgoing players over the summer, according to captaincy candidate Kyle Walker.
Here are your Manchester City evening headlines on Wednesday, September 13.