Phil Foden is “definitely ready” for the pressure of starting the Champions League clash with Lyon, according to Pep Guardiola, after Manchester City were hit by a number of injury setbacks in midfield.
City are already without Kevin De Bruyne, who is working his way back from a knee injury, and neither Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva travelled with the squad to France on Monday.
Silva has a slight injury from the international break with Portugal while Gundogan has damaged a bone in his foot. The pair are not expected to be out for long but it could mean a start for 18-year-old academy product Foden with City still needing a point to be certain of qualifying for the knockout stages.
“He’s definitely ready,” Guardiola told a news conference. “When Phil appeared in the last preseason game, I was incredibly impressed and I think he’s stronger and more conscious that he’s able to play with us.
“He played 20 minutes for the last game and was so aggressive with the ball and intense without it. I have the feeling that every time he played, he played good.
“In preseason or during the season, a few minutes or 90 minutes, he always plays good. He’s ready to play, he’s part of the squad.”
Gabriel Jesus also trained with the squad after picking up a slight muscle strain in Saturday’s 4-0 victory over West Ham United.
“Bernardo Silva is in the last step before being fit,” Guardiola added. “Gabriel Jesus had had a muscular problem in training but isn’t ready. Ilkay Gundogan had a problem in his feet.
“I prefer to have all the squad to choose but it is what it is. We have to adapt with the guys that are here and will try to do a good job and the others who aren’t here will do their best to recover.”
Lyon are the only side to beat City this season after their shock 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium in the opening Group F fixture.
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