Central to City’s defensive woes is the absence of John Stones, who last appeared in a troubling defeat to Tottenham. Stones was substituted at halftime, and Guardiola shared, “John felt good, but after 45 minutes he had to leave.

Ballon d’Or winner Rodri is hopeful he will play again this season after rupturing his ACL. The Manchester City midfielder was expected to be out for the rest of the campaign following surgery in September.

Manchester City's injured midfielder Rodri says he wants to return to action to help his team-mates before the end of the season.

Manchester City's Rodri said he is aiming to return from a serious knee injury before the end of the current campaign despite the Spanish midfielder being ruled out for the season in September.

Despite a serious injury earlier in the campaign in which . Rodri . tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee, it was thought he would be out for the entire seas