Gabriel Jesus is back to full training but faces a race to be in contention for the FA Cup fifth-round tie against Wigan Athletic on Monday.
He will take part in training on Friday and coach Pep Guardiola said the first team would have two more training sessions before playing the League One side.
“Today he is going to play in part of the session, it’s good news,” Guardiola told a news conference.
“I don’t know when he’ll be ready to be with us, the first step is to have one or two weeks training alone and today is the first with the team.”
Guardiola could opt to rest players at the DW Stadium, but stressed that he had been impressed by Wigan when they knocked out Premier League Bournemouth in the previous round.
“Of course I am concerned because I saw the game against Bournemouth, they are one of the teams I like to watch the most in the Premier League and they were able to beat them,” he said.
“I think the FA Cup there are a lot of surprises, not just this season or previous seasons, all throughout history you always have these kind of situation happen.
“It would be good for my players not to think too much of the [Carabao Cup] final next Sunday, they think about the final next Monday. I think that is the important thing for that game.
“It’s one game, the chance to go to the quarterfinals, and we are going to prepare as much as we can.”
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