Mateo Kovacic returns to individual training ahead of Manchester City title race run-in | OneFootball

Manchester City and Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic has given a sneak peak into his return to training on Instagram as he prepares for a strong finish to the season.

The 31-year-old has spent the last two-and-a-half months recovering from an ankle injury he sustained – after a brief return to action following a surgery on his Achilles last summer.

Kovacic is into the last 18 months of his contract and could well be on the move at the end of the season, with Manchester City unlikely to offer the former Real Madrid and Chelsea star a new deal as things stand.

City bosses would want to avoid the risk of losing Kovacic on a free transfer when his contract expires in 2027, with director of football Hugo Viana expected to progress the first-team rebuild in the upcoming transfer window.

However, Guardiola will be delighted to see Kovacic return to individual on-pitch training as Manchester City continue their challenge for silverware on all fronts following a turnaround week – wherein they entered the Carabao Cup final by beating Newcastle United and came from behind to beat Liverpool at Anfield to stay in the Premier League title race.

The Blues welcome Fulham to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night in search of a third straight win in all competitions and to keep up the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal, who face Brentford on Thursday evening.

Rodri is expected to retain his place in the starting XI against Fulham on Wednesday night, having put in a commendable shift in the weekend triumph over Liverpool, though Nico Gonzalez is also fit and available for selection.

Kovacic is unlikely to play any minutes soon and will eventually start training with the wider first-team group, which could see the midfielder near a return to action towards the end of February.

Guardiola and his players must put a winning run together in the Premier League to stand any chance of keeping up with Arsenal, who are firmly in the driving seat to win a first league title in 22 years.

The Blues face Salford City in the FA Cup fourth-round on Saturday, having swept Exeter City aside in a 10-1 rout in the third-round when Antoine Semenyo scored on his Manchester City debut just over 24 hours on from completing a £64 million transfer from Bournemouth in January.

Kovacic could go on to play a vital role for Guardiola in the final stretch of the season, with the games coming thick and fast for Manchester City in their premier year under Viana.

Josko Gvardiol is still at least a few months away from returning to training, with Savinho and Jeremy Doku also doubtful to feature against Fulham on Wedneday night, when City academy graduate Oscar Bobb could face his boyhood club just weeks after leaving Manchester City for £27 million to revitalise his career.