Pep Guardiola provides fitness update on three Man City players ahead of Brighton clash

Pep Guardiola has provided an encouraging update on his squad’s fitness ahead of Manchester City’s league meeting with Brighton on Saturday.

The Premier League champions will be keen on returning to winning ways when they welcome Brighton and Roberto De Zerbi to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Brighton are winless in their last four league outings and would be aiming to succumb back-to-back losses on the Premier League champions this weekend.

The Blues have been without John Stones, Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips for the past few weeks, but it’s hoped all three could return in time for the World Cup in November.

Walker and Phillips have undergone surgery recently and are major doubts for the World Cup, especially with England set to select a provisional 55-man squad on Friday.

Meanwhile, Stones picked up a hamstring injury when representing the Three Lions during the latest international break, and has not played for City in over a month as a result. But the former Everton centre-back was pictured back in training on Thursday.

Speaking to the press on Friday afternoon, Pep Guardiola provided an update on his squad’s fitness ahead of City’s league meeting with Brighton at the Etihad Stadium.

“I didn’t speak with the doctors about Kyle. Hopefully it can happen and, if selected, he can make the [England] squad,” the Catalan told reporters.

“John is training with us and tomorrow is in the list. Kalvin is incredibly much better as well. He is recovering really well.”

Guardiola also played down any talk of City having an added advantage for the game due to the fact they were the only Premier League side not in action during the week, while Brighton played out a 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest.

“The advantage, seven years it’s not a problem,” he opined. “We are used to playing until the end, last six years the teams who don’t play in Europe have an advantage. It’s not important, we were able to rest a lot, teams who rest and others who play the game.”