4 Players Return to Training at Manchester City

Manchester City are about to embark upon a period of 4 games in 11 days before the next International Break and today welcomed back into training 4 players.

These 4 players are all members of the first team and Pep Guardiola, Manchester City Manager, will be pleased he has a number of extra players available to provide options and squad depth during this busy period of games. A number of these returning players are likely to feature for Manchester City against Fulham in the Carabao Cup game tomorrow night.

More from Game preview

• Penalty miss from Haaland and later scored, late equalizer from Sheffield and final moment from Rodri extend City’s perfect start in the Premier League
• Manchester City vs Manchester United FA Cup Final: Predicted Lineup for City
• Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion: Predicted Lineups
• Manchester City vs. Real Madrid: Predicted lineup for Manchester City
• Manchester City vs. Real Madrid: The 3 Keys to Victory

Ilkay Gundogan is the first major returning player who has been suffering from what was believed to be a knee injury throughout the last month, which even kept him out of contention during the last round of International games. Gundogan will be able to provide welcome competition and support in the central midfield berths during coming games and could even find himself utilised as an stand in defensive midfielder, although his natural inclination to push forward has seen him caught out of position whilst covering this role in the past.

Danilo our Brazilian fullback has suffered some injury problems since the last World Cup. He was initially injured during the World Cup whilst playing for Brazil, whilst suffering an ankle injury. This injury saw him work steadily back to fitness in time for the last International football window, where he duly injured the same ankle again for Brazil. Thankfully the injury has this time not proven as serious and Danilo has now returned to training. This is likely to mean we will not see John Stones again at right back for some time.

Eliaquim Mangala has also returned to training following a lengthy 8 Month absence from injury. Mangala has impressed in his recent appearances for Guardiola, and looked to be fulfilling his potential as a centre back but he was deemed surplus to requirements and sent on loan to Everton last season. Whilst at Everton he suffered season ending cruciate ligament injury and returned to Manchester City for rehabilitation. Mangala has less than 12 Months remaining on his contract so will be keen to prove his fitness.

Finally Fabian Delph has also returned to contention for the first team. Delph has suffered a series of muscle injury set backs whilst at Manchester City and it is these which I think have reduced his number of appearances since joining. Fans will be pleased to have him back either to offer cover for Benjamin Mendy or to undertake duties in his more natural midfield role.

This all means the only current first team player in the treatment room remains Claudio Bravo, who is likely to be out for the season with a ruptured achilles.