Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola confirmed that Ballon d’Or winning-midfielder Rodri is set to return after a hamstring injury as the team aims to maintain pressure on Premier League table-toppers Arsenal in their match against Sunderland on Thursday.
Guardiola hoped that the Spanish midfield general could play a part in the side’s trip to The Stadium of Light, in addition to Jeremy Doku, who was sidelined for nearly three weeks due to a leg injury, as City go in search of their ninth straight win across competitions.
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“Rodri has come back. Maybe he can play a few minutes,” Guardiola said.
“We need it desperately. Doku, maybe,” the Catalan added.
Second-placed City, who
trail leaders Arsenal by five points, will be without the services of John Stones and Oscar Bobb who are still unfit to return.
“We had seven or eight injured players and two at the Africa Cup of Nations,” the former Barcelona boss said.
“Five players injured are coming back a little bit, so in terms of squad we are not at our best right now but in terms of points we are better than last season,” Guardiola said.
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City got the better of Sunderland at home in a 3-0 stomping earlier this month, but the manager cautioned against underestimating the seventh-placed team.
“They are tough. The crowd is always, I remember my first season going there, unbelievable,” Guardiola said.
“They have beaten Newcastle United. Arsenal, Aston Villa could not win there so they are tough but we at the same time are ready,” the City boss concluded.
