Josko Gvardiol set to take major step forward in Manchester City injury recover ‘in 10 days’ | OneFootball

Manchester City are expected to see significant progress in Josko Gvardiol’s injury recovery process within the next ’10 days’, according to reports from Croatia.

The latest injury update comes as City navigate a high-stakes April schedule off the back of recently secureing the Carabao Cup trophy with a 2-0 win over Arsenal courtesy of a second-half Nico O’Reilly brace.

Pep Guardiola’s defensive depth has been tested by the ongoing absence of the Croatian international, as well as the previous absence of Ruben Dias, whose tactical flexibility at both centre-back and left-back was a pillar of the team’s early-season success.

The 24-year-old defender has been sidelined since early January after suffering a right tibial fracture during a 1-1 draw against Chelsea and, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon and the Blues entering the final stages of a Premier League title race where they trail Arsenal by nine points, Gvardiol’s recovery has come into focus.

Gvardiol injury recovery update

Now, according to the information of Sportske Novosti, sources from within Manchester City are indicating that Josko Gvardiol’s injury recovery process is ‘going very well and without any complications’.

It is suggested that the defender ‘should be able to start running in 10 days’, with ‘gradual and careful dose of load’, and while it is unclear how long Gvardiol will specifically take to regain muscle strength, the expectation is for him to be ‘fully fit’ by mid-May.

When could Gvardiol next play for City?

The timeline suggests Josko Gvardiol could potentially be available for a theoretical FA Cup Final at the end of May, should City progress past Liverpool in this weekend’s quarter-final clash and a Wembley semi-final.

Manchester City would also have an away clash against Bournemouth in the Premier League to contend with as part of that same timeline, as well as the final day meeting with Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium.

However, the club’s medical staff are likely to maintain a safety-first approach, prioritising Josko Gvardiol’s long-term health over a rushed return for the final weeks of the domestic campaign.

While his return to the pitch for Manchester City this season remains a bonus scenario for the club rather than a guarantee, the news is a significant boost for the Croatia national team, possibly giving Gvardiol ample time to build match sharpness ahead of the World Cup.