Man City handed injury boost as Pep Guardiola issues latest in three-man update ahead of Newcastle clash | OneFootball

Man City’s injury list has extended to seven

Manchester City have been handed an injury boost ahead of a busy week for Pep Guardiola’s side, with Ruben Dias returning to training.

The defender has been sidelined since New Year’s Day, when he was withdrawn in the draw against Chelsea.

Guardiola confirmed that the Portuguese had suffered a muscle injury, and it was revealed that the centre-back had a hamstring problem.

It added to John Stones’ absence, and the England defender remains sidelined with a thigh problem that has troubled him for much of the campaign.

Max Alleyne was recalled and Marc Guehi signed from Crystal Palace to relieve the pressure on Nathan Ake and Abdukodir Khusanov at the heart of the back four.

Forwards Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku are also doubts, with the pair suffering knocks in the games with Tottenham and Galatasaray respectively.

Doku missed the draw at Spurs - which Cherki scored in - and Guardiola will hope to have both men available for the weekend’s trip to Anfield to face Liverpool.

"He had a knock,” Guardiola said of Cherki against Tottenham, after the Frenchman was withdrawn on 69 minutes in north London. “We will see today how he feels.

"Ruben [Dias] started training yesterday and Jeremy [Doku] not yet."

City are six points off Arsenal in the Premier League title race, having lost ground on the Gunners after their 2-2 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Sunday.