Pep provides injury update ahead of Sunderland clash | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says Jeremy Doku may be in contention to feature away at Sunderland on New Year’s Day but confirmed that John Stones and Oscar Bobb remain unavailable.

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Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the City boss also revealed that Rodri - who returned to the matchday squad for last weekend’s 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest for the first time in two months - could be in contention for some vital match minutes .

Doku has not played since our UEFA Champions League win at Real Madrid earlier this month.

But Guardiola offered a positive update on the Belgian winger’s progress as well as Rodri’s fitness.

“Rodri has come back. Maybe he can play a few minutes. We need it desperately. Doku maybe. John and Oscar no,” said Guardiola.

Stones has been sidelined since our Premier League win at Fulham at the start of the December.

Bobb meanwhile was forced off against Brentford in our Carabao Cup quarter final win.

Rayan Air-Nouri and Omar Marmoush are also unavailable for selection as they are away on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Algeria and Egypt respectively while Mateo Kovacic is continuing his rehabilitation from an ankle injury.

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“We had seven or eight injured players and two at the AFCON,” Pep pointed out.

“Five players injured are coming back a little bit, so in terms of squad we are not in our best right now but in terms of points we are better than last season.”

Promoted to the top flight last summer, the Black Cats have made a hugely impressive fist of things across the first half of the campaign.

Going into the New Year’s Day clash they lie in seventh place in the table on 28 points from 18 games.

What’s more, Regis Le Bris’s side are also so far unbeaten at the Stadium of Light.

Given that fine record, Guardiola is anticipating the toughest possible test as City seek to get 2026 underway by recording what would be a ninth straight win and to close the gap on leaders Arsenal to two points.

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“We faced them a few weeks ago [when we won 3-0 at the Etihad] and they’ve had an incredible season,” Guardiola added.

“If you are promoted, you can continue with the same group of players or do what they have done. 14 new signings it’s not easy to assemble everything. They’ve done it well.

“Tomorrow is the last game of the first leg [of the season] and we play against Chelsea, but being in that position speaks for itself.

“They are tough. The crowd is always, I remember my first season going there, unbelievable.

“They’ve beaten Newcastle. Arsenal, Villa could not win there so they are tough but we at the same time we are ready.”

City v Brighton tickets on general sale

We welcome an entertaining Brighton side to the Etihad at 19:30 (UK) on Wednesday 7 January.

And with tickets now on general sale, you could be there to see it!

Fans can now claim three tickets each, with adults from £30 and concessions as low as £15.

Or make it a night to remember with hospitality packages starting from just £180 per person and a wide range of experiences available to suit your budget.

Kick off the new year in style!