Pep Guardiola provides John Stones, Manuel Akanji injury update for Chelsea clash
After missing the first two months of the season with a hip injury, Stones has since featured in five of Man City's last six matches in all competitions, including a start in Tuesday's 3-0 win over Young Boys in the Champions League.
However, the 29-year-old was withdrawn at half time against the Swiss outfit after sustaining a muscle injury, and Guardiola stated after the match that the defender would be sidelined for «a while».
Stones, who has been left out of the England squad ahead of the upcoming international break, will therefore not be involved against Chelsea this weekend and has also emerged as a doubt for the clash with Liverpool on November 25.
«He is injured,» Guardiola revealed at a press conference on Friday. «He is not ready for tomorrow and we will see after international break. I don't know (whether he will be ready) for Liverpool.
»The doctor says it's not as bad (as first thought), but still I don't know. When he is going to be fit again, he will be back."
Asked whether summer signing Josko Gvardiol – who has primarily played at either left-back or centre-back this season – could replace Stones in a deep-lying midfield role, Guardiola said: «Maybe. Still he didn't prove it in the training sessions and drills that we do to see how he moves in central area.
»I haven't seen it yet. (but he is) 21 years old, so maybe. The fact John can do it is because we've been together for eight years. Josko is just two or three months here, so we need more time."
Meanwhile, Manuel Akanji recently emerged as a doubt for the trip to Chelsea as he pulled out of Man City's
Read on sportsmole.co.uk
