Croatia medical chief offers update on Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic | OneFootball

An update has been provided on the recovery timeframes of both Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol from within the Croatia national team.

Both players have been struck with long-term absences in recent days and weeks for Manchester City, adding further strain to Pep Guardiola’s squad during an already demanding period of fixtures.

City are now managing an expanding injury list, with defensive depth tested following fresh issues sustained during the draw with Chelsea, as well as longer-term absentees already sidelined.

Josko Gvardiol’s injury in particular has raised concerns due to its severity and the length of recovery initially feared, with the defender viewed as a crucial component of both Manchester City’s defensive structure and Croatia’s plans heading into the summer.

Meanwhile, Kovacic’s heel problem also required surgical intervention, ruling him out of action at a time when Manchester City have been dealing with fitness uncertainties across midfield.

Speaking in a new conversation with Sportske Novosti, as translated and relayed by The Croatian on X, the Head of the Croatian Football Federation’s Medical Department, Tomislav Vlahović issued some element of hope regarding Gvardiol and the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

“We hope that Joško will recover in time for the World Cup. We believe that this is realistic. You never know how things will develop during rehabilitation, but our hope is strong,” said Vlahović.

He continued, “I think that within five months the bone should heal, but we are talking about him playing football by then, not just the bone healing.

“At the club, he has the best doctors and physiotherapists, and just as it is in our interest for him to return, it is in theirs as well. He’s a young guy, and there is potential for his bone to heal faster.”

Gvardiol’s Manchester City and international teammate Mateo Kovacic also remains in recovery following surgery on a heel injury, on which Tomislav Vlahović said, “I would say we think he will be ready by the World Cup, and probably even earlier.

“It’s a complex injury and treatment, and things are monitored on a daily basis. The recovery is going well.”

From a Manchester City perspective, the comments will be viewed as cautiously encouraging, even if immediate returns are not expected and in the case of Gvardiol, a return to club action is not expected until the very late stages of the season if at all.

For now, Pep Guardiola and his staff are likely to continue taking a conservative approach, particularly given the volume of fixtures still to come and the club’s broader squad management strategy.

Looking ahead, Manchester City may need to rely on rotation, tactical flexibility, and emerging options to bridge the gap until both players are fully fit, with Max Alleyne called back from his loan at Watford to aid the situation at the Etihad Stadium.