Guardiola: 'Rodri will be ready to help' | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Rodri is close to returning and may feature against AFC Bournemouth this weekend.

The Citizens have a difficult home game against second-place Bournemouth where a win would see them leap above the Cherries.

"I think he will be ready to help," Guardiola said about the midfielder who lasted just 22 minutes against Brentford last time.

"I don't know if he will be able to play from the beginning, but hopefully he can be with us."

The Spaniard went on to confirm that Erling Haaland was fit before being asked about Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo who has shone so far this campaign.

"It is not just this season. The way Bournemouth play suits him perfectly. He is an extraordinary player."

The City manager also praised Andoni Iraola's side: "They are top. How co-ordinated they are with the hierarchy with the sporting directors, with the managers and with the players - they have a clear philosophy and that doesn't change.

"Of course players change and other things but it is impressive. When you lose three or four players from a back four to Real Madrid and Liverpool and you reimburse the team and do it in that way it is because they have a lot of good work behind them."

City have won four of five games against Iraola's Bournemouth, including in the last fixture – a 3-1 home win back in May.