Pep Guardiola confirms ‘important’ Man City fitness boost

Pep Guardiola says the return to fitness of Phil Foden is the perfect boost ahead of Wednesday’s huge Champions League quarter-final second leg tie at Bayern Munich.

Foden withdrew from England duty at the end of March with appendicitis and has not played since as he recovers from the surgery and the injury.

The 22-year-old returned to training with the team this week and has travelled with them for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich.

And speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of the match, the City boss confirmed Foden would start on the bench.

Pep also says Foden’s return to fitness is the ideal tonic as City vie for silverware on three fronts in the defining stretch of the season.

“We’re delighted (he is back)” Guardiola revealed.

“Definitely it’s good news for us. He has trained just once yesterday but we decided he would travel with us and be on the bench.

“(How minutes he is capable of) I don’t know. 90 for sure no. But his physicality is special.

“He is a special player who doesn’t need a lot of training sessions to be fit.

“But he’s important – not just for tomorrow, but for the tight schedule we have ahead of us.”

After facing Bayern in the quarter-finals, the Premier League holders take on Sheffield United in the FA Cup before welcoming league leaders Arsenal in a huge title clash.