Pep Guardiola provides concerning Kyle Walker update for Real Madrid clash
The former Tottenham Hotspur man has been absent from the Citizens' last two matches on account of the thigh injury he sustained during England's friendly with Brazil last month.
City have taken four points from a possible six against Aston Villa and Arsenal with Walker watching on in the medical bay, where Nathan Ake (calf) and Ederson (thigh) also reside.
Speaking to the media prior to the 4-1 beating of Villa on Wednesday night, Guardiola revealed that Man City's doctors have ruled out the possibility of Walker taking on the La Liga leaders on April 9, but the 33-year-old is still holding out hope of an appearance.
«The doctors says no but Kyle is Kyle, he has a special genetic. The doctor said to me it was quite serious, but I said Kyle is Kyle,» the Manchester Evening News quotes Guardiola as saying.
How big a blow would Walker's absence be?England's friendly with Brazil last month ought to have been a tune-up for a fascinating individual battle at the Bernabeu between City captain Walker, and Real's effervescent winger Vinicius Junior.
The pair had already engaged in a much-anticipated one-on-one during last year's semi-finals, and Vinicius hailed Walker as the best defender he has ever played against after Brazil's beating of the Three Lions at Wembley.
The ex-Spurs man may be celebrating his 34th birthday next month, but his outstanding pace and defensive awareness have not abandoned him, while he has also chipped in with a trio of assists in 38 matches this term.
It was not all that long ago that Guardiola claimed that Walker could not
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