Manchester City receive major double fitness boost ahead of AS Monaco and Brentford | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola and his backroom staff have received a significant boost to their selection options this week with the return to training of two key stars.

The timing of recoveries could not be better for Guardiola, who has been managing a delicate balance of injuries and rotation in the opening weeks of the new season, and significantly improving performances since the September international break.

With Manchester City continuing to chase momentum both domestically and in European competition, having senior players available to feature across multiple competitions has become a top priority.

Rodri’s situation in particular has been monitored closely in recent days after the Spaniard missed the majority of last season with a serious knee injury and Guardiola revealing that the midfielder was struggling with “a lot of pain” during the build-up to the Burnley clash.

City successfully navigated his absence in a 5-1 home win over Burnley, but his return to training is still likely to be treated with caution ahead of the final two fixtures against Monaco and Brentford before the October international break.

As for Rayan Cherki, his absence since the end of August has been a source of frustration given the impact he made following his summer arrival. The Frenchman was sidelined with a hamstring problem, halting what had been a promising start to life at the Etihad Stadium.

Now, as confirmed during the open training session ahead of City’s clash against AS Monaco in France this week, Rayan Cherki has returned to first-team involvement at the City Football Academy following the muscular issue.

Another member of the squad partaking in training following recent fitness concerns was Rodri, who was absent from the Manchester City squad that eased past Burnley on Saturday afternoon.

The expectation is that Pep Guardiola will resist the urge to start both players immediately, instead easing them back into competitive action over the coming fixtures, perhaps after the international break in the case of the France international.

Cherki, who offers creativity between the lines and attacking flair, could however still be handed some on-field minutes against Monaco or Brentford, although the club have insisted upon patience regarding the player’s return recently.

Rodri’s reintegration will likely be carefully managed, and City may look to reduce his workload to prevent a repeat of last season’s long-term setback or any aggravation of his recent knee pain.

With fixtures coming thick and fast, including UEFA Champions League and Premier League commitments on the immediate horizon, Guardiola will need to find the balance between relying on his midfield anchor and keeping him fit across the campaign.

If both players can maintain their fitness, their return comes as a huge boost to Manchester City’s ambitions across all competitions, particularly given the relentless schedule in the Autumn and Winter months.