Pep Guardiola confirms two Man City injury boosts despite Ederson blow | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola balanced the confirmation of Ederson's spell on the sidelines with news that Phil Foden and Manuel Akanji had returned to training.

Ederson limped off against Crystal Palace last weekend with a groin injury which had many on the blue half of Manchester fretting. Initial reports were confident that the Brazilian shot-stopper would not be fit to face Everton on Saturday and hinted at an extended absence.

Guardiola confirmed that Ederson is "not ready" for the trip to Goodison Park but was unable to provide any clarity about when his first-choice goalkeeper would return.

City's over-populated treatment room has gradually emptied as the season has progressed but it still contains John Stones, Nathan Ake and star striker Erling Haaland. Guardiola revealed that the prolific Norwegian is yet to be involved in any training sessions while he plots a gradual return which could take up to seven weeks.

Manuel Akanji is set to return after an extended spell on the sidelines / Carl Recine/GettyImages

The defensive duo of Stones and Ake are "getting better" but remain sidelined. Akanj, however, is set to be available once again. "Manu, yes, [he's had] two or three training sessions with us," Guardiola beamed. "I see him moving really well."

The versatile Swiss international has been nursing a muscular issue for the past two-and-a-half weeks, forcing Guardiola to move Josko Gvardiol into a centre-back role alongside Ruben Dias. Foden hasn't endured a layoff anywhere near as lengthy, but has been playing together with Akanji in training after sitting out last weekend's comeback victory over Palace.

City head to Goodison Park in desperate need of points to maintain their position in the Premier League's top five - which offers qualification to next season's lucrative Champions League. Yet, the Toffees will be no pushovers in front of a crowd savouring every last moment at the club's spiritual home.

Since David Moyes was reappointed Everton manager in January, the Merseyside outfit have collected as many points as City while conceding two fewer goals.

As Guardiola warned, the atmosphere and history seeping out of the stadium should not distract from the tough task at hand. "It's a nice place to go," the City boss grinned, "difficult one of course but nice."