Man City receive double fitness update in major boost ahead of RB Leipzig and Arsenal clashes

Manchester City are set welcome back Bernardo Silva and John Stones, with the pair having returned to training this morning.

Pep Guardiola has been working with a fairly small squad for the past few weeks, and has done pretty well considering.

But City have lost their last two games now, and it will be important to get back to winning ways on Wednesday in the Champions League against RB Leipzig.

The European and Premier League champions take on two matches in both competitions that will play significant roles in their attempted defences of both trophies this week, despite the early stage of the campaign.

Manchester City travel to Germany on Tuesday afternoon ahead of matchday two in the UEFA Champions League group stage on Wednesday night, as they face RB Leipzig in Germany looking to go three points clear at the top of the division.

Following the clash in east Germany, City will then return to England to finalise preparations ahead of a match-up against last season’s Premier League title challengers Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

On the eve of both matches, Manchester City and particularly Pep Guardiola has received a significant boost to his first-team options, with the return of two crucial stars following respective injury problems.

As per Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News, Manchester City have been boosted by the timely returns of both Bernardo Silva and John Stones to first-team training on Tuesday morning.

Silva has been missing since the Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade last month while Stones hasn’t started for the Blues since the Community Shield as part of a number of injury issues that have hampered the squad.

It remains to be seen whether both players will be fit enough to feature against RB Leipzig on Wednesday but it is encouraging for the group – particularly ahead of the crunch game against Arsenal at the weekend – to have them back in training.

Guardiola may give further updates on the fitness of the players when he addresses the media on Tuesday afternoon.

City are having to conduct their press conference remotely, in the UK, with the weather meaning they will have to fly later than expected and will not be able to conduct it in person in Germany.

Five youngsters trained with the first team on Tuesday morning ahead of their trip to Germany, including young forwards Alfie Harrison and Micah Hamilton and left-back Tom Galvez. Even if not all are involved with the first team, they will hope for minutes in the UEFA Youth League.