Pep Guardiola press conference: Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Savinho fitness updates ahead of Newcastle | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola issued a fitness update on his squad ahead of Sunday night’s Premier League meeting with Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium.

The Blues have won four on the bounce and avoided defeat in their last seven games in all competitions as they look to hunt down a stuttering Arsenal side that are losing their foothold over top spot in the Premier League.

City enter this weekend’s round of fixtures five points adrift of the Gunners with a game in hand after Mikel Arteta’s side squandered a two goal lead and succumbed to a 2-2 draw against Wolves at the Molineux Stadium on Wednesday night.

The tide is turning at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City gather momentum to push Arsenal all the way in the title race as they also remain on course for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies, alongside the north Londoners.

Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva missed last weekend’s FA Cup fourth win over Salford City entirety after being deemed ‘not fully fit’ for the tie by official club media.

Haaland was taken off at half-time in Manchester City’s 3-0 Premier League win over Fulham last week, with the 25-year-old rested in the FA Cup last week as a precautionary measure as City prepare for the games to start coming thick and fast in the season run-in.

John Stones started and captained City to the win over Salford City, providing Guardiola a timely personnel boost in defence after academy graduate Max Alleyne was taken off after 21 minutes against the League Two outfit.

Savinho and Jeremy Doku were deemed to be approaching a return to action by Guardiola last week, with Manchester City also expecting Mateo Kovacic to return to first-team training in the coming weeks after the Croatian shared an individual training regime sneak peak on social media a few weeks ago.

Speaking in a press conference on Friday afternoon, Guardiola provided a wider fitness update on his group ahead of Sunday’s 20:00 UK kick-off against Newcastle United.

“Doku is not ready and Savinho is ready,” said Guardiola, which hands Manchester City a chance to recall Savinho to the matchday squad this weekend.

Guardiola did not provide a comment on Haaland’s fitness in particular but nodded yes to a follow-up question whether the Norwegian is ‘back fully fit’ and is ready to face Newcastle United. Silva is also expected to return to the lineup on Sunday night.

Manchester City will be smelling blood in the title race amid Arsenal’s struggles and the Blues will want to ensure a win this weekend to keep up the pressure on the Premier League leaders, who will play in the north London derby against Tottenham in the hours leading to City’s meeting with Newcastle on Sunday evening.