A Manchester City defender is making steady progress in his recovery from injury | OneFootball

One player Manchester City have had to navigate the majority of 2026 without is Josko Gvardiol. The talented and versatile defender suffered a right tibial fracture in Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the beginning of January. Once the severity of Gvardiol’s injury was confirmed, it was not expected that he would return this season. Despite this, the Croatian international has been making steady progress in his recovery from the injury he sustained. A new update has now emerged on Josko Gvardiol’s progress, and he may have a chance of featuring for Croatia at this summer’s World Cup. However, it seems unlikely that he will return to the pitch for Manchester City this season.

A new update has emerged on Josko Gvardiol’s recovery from injury.

Sportske Novosti has provided an update on Josko Gvardiol’s recovery from the right tibial fracture he sustained against Chelsea. It has been revealed that Gvardiol is set to begin light running in ten days. It is also reported that Manchester City will take a careful approach with Gvardiol’s fitness. City will not want to see Gvardiol suffer any setbacks in his recovery from a serious injury. It is also reported that if everything goes well, Gvardiol could be ready to return to the pitch in mid-May.

Josko Gvardiol has a chance of featuring at the World Cup which could benefit Manchester City.

Given that Manchester City have at least nine, and up to eleven matches remaining this season if they make the FA Cup final, it seems unlikely that Josko Gvardiol will return this season for Manchester City. That news isn’t a major surprise given the severity of the injury that Gvardiol sustained. However, there is a chance that Gvardiol could feature for Croatia at this summer’s World Cup. If that turns out to be the case, it could benefit Manchester City if Gvardiol does feature in the World Cup.

Depending on his fitness, Josko Gvardiol could play several matches for Croatia in the World Cup. That would be more than handy for Pep Guardiola’s side. If Gvardiol can play at the World Cup and get through unscathed, that would be massive for City entering next season. That would almost be the ideal situation for City as they could enter the 2026/27 season knowing that Josko Gvardiol has come through matches and would be over the serious injury he picked up against Chelsea.

However, there is a lot that needs to happen for that to occur. The fact that Josko Gvardiol is set to begin running in some capacity within ten days does represent good news for him and Manchester City.