Guardiola not ruling out Walker playing against Brentford despite asking to leave Man City | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says Kyle Walker could be involved for Man City against Brentford having been absent from the squad for the FA Cup win over Salford City.

Guardiola revealed after the game against Salford that Walker was “exploring options” to leave the club this month, with the 34-year-old keen to end his career abroad.

Walker has played 18 times in all competitions for the club this season but has found himself on the bench more often than in previous seasons.

He has also struggled to match his previous level of performance when on the pitch.

The City boss says there is no further update on his future, however, though added that he has not yet decided whether Walker will be involved for City’s next Premier League game against Brentford.

“No, there’s no news,” he said.

“I will decide in the afternoon, after training (whether he will be involved).

“I said what I said. I’m not going to add anything else. I don’t have any news, so it’s Brentford on my mind.”

City’s 8-0 demolition of Salford City in the FA Cup means they have now won three games in a row in all competitions, following a run of just one win in 13 games prior to that.

But Guardiola insists it is too early to say City are back to their previous level.

“Well of course, we won three games,” Guardiola said when asked if the three wins had made a difference to his squad’s mood.

“Before it was impossible to win one. Now we won three and that helps us.

“But the reality is we won against a team in the last game because of the difference of the Premier League and League Two, and the budgets of both teams. We should win.

“We did it quite well but still we have to wait to see if we are who we are but of course the mood is better.

“We have an enormously difficult game (against Brentford) for what they have done in the last seasons. They are always a team that creates a lot of problems and are a fantastic team.”