Pep Guardiola has provided an update on the fitness of Jack Grealish, Kalvin Phillips, Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte ahead of Manchester City's clash with Aston Villa on Saturday.
City maintained their strong start to the season by putting six past Nottingham Forest in midweek, with Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez featuring heavily on the scoresheet on their first start together in attack since the pair joined the Premier League champions this summer.
Haaland netted thrice for the second time in four days and helped Manchester City to a three-goal lead at the interval, taking his tally to nine league goals in five appearances.
Advert
Joao Cancelo thumped in a peach of a strike from distance as Pep Guardiola's side remain undefeated five games into the start of their title defence.
Kalvin Phillips, Jack Grealish and Nathan Ake were all missing for the Blues on Wednesday against Forest, which has left questions over the trio's availability for Saturday's trip to Villa Park.
Phillips, who joined City from Leeds this summer, injured his forearm against Barcelona in City's charity friendly two weeks ago.
Advert
Grealish took a knock in City's 4-0 triumph over Bournemouth on matchday two of the Premier League campaign but has returned to training ahead of this weekend's clash.
After staying put at City despite interest from Chelsea in the transfer window, Ake began the season alongside Ruben Dias in central defence whilst John Stones and Aymeric Laporte were both on the sidelines.
The 27-year-old proved to be a vital member of Pep Guardiola's squad last season, often filling in for the likes of Stones and Dias across various competitions at key points in the campaign.
Advert
Manchester City made a strong finish to their transfer window by announcing the arrival of Manuel Akanji from Borussia Dortmund on deadline day.
Speaking ahead of a tricky test away at Aston Villa this weekend, Pep Guardiola confirmed Nathan Ake and Jack Grealish trained with the squad yesterday and will be assessed further on Friday before a decision is made on their respective availabilities for Saturday.
However, Guardiola added Kalvin Phillips did not train on Friday and looks set to remain out of action this weekend, though Aymeric Laporte could return after the international break at the end of the month.
Advert
The Manchester City boss added: "We said September or October - early October. He (Laporte) will be ready after the international break.
"We won't force it. Knee is a tough injury. I cannot forget being in those positions, West Ham away and Aston Villa, we had no alternatives."
A packed schedule of games will next see the Premier League champions begin their Champions League campaign away at Sevilla on Tuesday evening.
Advert
Tottenham and Antonio Conte visit the Etihad Stadium next weekend in what has all the makings of a blockbuster Premier League battle.
City will be hoping for all three points on Saturday against Steven Gerrard's men, who nearly took the title away from the Blues on the final day of last season.
Topics: Manchester City, Premier League, Aston Villa, Steven Gerrard, Pep Guardiola, Jack Grealish, Nathan Ake, Kalvin Phillips, Football
Vayam Lahoti