Manuel Akanji delivers injury update ahead of Manchester City's Premier League clash with Fulham

Manchester City centre-back Manuel Akanji has delivered a personal injury update ahead of the weekend's Premier League action.

The Swiss international missed the Premier League champions' last game against Sevilla on the final matchday of the Champions League group stage.

The match itself was totally meaningless in terms of competitive edge, and ultimately provided Manchester City a rare opportunity to hand some of the more integral first-team stars a night off ahead of a crunch run of games.

Manuel Akanji was sidelined for the game following an issue picked up in the closing stages of the 0-1 win against Leicester City last weekend.

The defender was withdrawn during the closing stages of the victory at the King Power Stadium, when a fine Kevin De Bruyne free-kick from distance was enough to secure all three points for City.

Pep Guardiola's side return to Premier League action this weekend against Fulham, as they look to keep up the pressure on league leaders Arsenal.

At present, just two points separate the sides, and subsequently there is no margin for area during the final run-in ahead of the break for the FIFA World Cup this month.

Speaking ahead of the game, Manuel Akanji has offered a significant update on his fitness, in a boost to Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City teammates.

The former Borussia Dortmund man has told BBC Radio Manchester's Mike Minay that he is available for selection this weekend, in a match that could offer a stern test with Marco Silva's Fulham certainly impressing.

Manuel Akanji said, “I just got a dead leg (against Leicester last weekend), I couldn’t stand on my leg any more."

He continued, "After a couple of days it got better.

"Now I’m back in training and ready for the weekend.”

City’s Manuel Akanji has told @BBCRadioManc he’ll be available for the Fulham this weekend: “I just got a dead leg, I couldn’t stand on my leg any more. After a couple of days it got better. Now I’m back in training and ready for the weekend.”#ManCity #MCFC

— Mike Minay (@MikeMinay) November 3, 2022

Akanji was also spotted in first-team training with the rest of his Manchester City teammates on Thursday.

Oh hello, @ErlingHaaland! 👀👋 pic.twitter.com/O1nM4cc8hR

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) November 3, 2022

In a further boost to City's options, Erling Haaland also returned to the training pitches after a lay-off with ligament damage in his foot.

The pair stood side-by-side with Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish in one photo, partaking in various drills on the City Football Academy surfaces.

Pep Guardiola is due to speak to the media on Friday afternoon, and is expected to provide a further update on the fitness of both players as well as the wider first-team group.