Man City: Pep Guardiola handed major injury boost ahead of Arsenal showdown | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola receives a huge boost ahead of a huge period for Man City

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.

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.

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.