Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola delivered mixed news on the injury front on the eve of Saturday's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur.
Guardiola, who was already without star midfielder Rodri for the rest of the season and Oscar Bobb until next year, announced on Friday that Mateo Kovacic will now be sidelined for up to a month.
However, Guardiola also claimed that John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Aké were all in with a chance to be fit for Spurs at the Etihad Stadium.
“Some of them [could be available]yes,” Guardiola said. 'John trained well, Manu trained well. Nathan comes back to training so we had no centre-backs and now we have three.
'Ruben [Dias] is out but hopefully back soon. Some players recover better.
'These ten days [of the international break] some players recovered somewhat. “I don't know if they're ready to play 90 minutes or play from the start, but seeing the training and seeing their faces was a really good boost for all of us.”
On Kovacic, Guardiola added: 'He will stay for a while, three weeks or a month. More or less.
'Max Alleyne is also not fit. He was injured by the national team, England U20, because they push our limits and come back injured.
'Players go to the national team and train with the U21s in the morning and after two matches in the afternoon with the U20s. He is not fit, we will lose him. It is what it is.'
It is also understood that Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish will be in contention for City's match against Spurs, although Guardiola did not name them directly on Friday.
Kovacic had become a key figure for City in a central midfield role after Rodri suffered a serious knee injury in September.
The former Chelsea striker has played fifteen of City's first eighteen games this season.
He also played twice for Croatia during the recent international break. Kovacic lasted the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 defeat to Scotland before being sent off at half-time during a 1-1 draw against Portugal.
Guardiola's press conference took place on Friday less than 24 hours after City confirmed the Spaniard had signed a new two-year contract extension.
Discussing his extension – which will see him at the club until June 2027 – Guardiola said: 'From day one I felt incredible love and respect for all my assistants and coaches here. If I hadn't felt that, I wouldn't be here.'
When asked why he had chosen to extend his contract for two years instead of one, Guardiola replied sarcastically: “Because of the weather.”
He then continued: 'I especially don't want next season to become 'is this Pep's last year in September, October, November? Will he renew again?' That was the main reason. I don't want to be in that position.
'In the end the contract is there. I would like to stay for another two years, but I know that if the results are not good, it won't be two years.
'It's the same with the players. We have some incredible, legendary players here, but you have to perform. If you don't act, our owner, chairman and fans will say, “What's going on? We have to change.” Everyone is under pressure, me first.
“Maybe it's a bit arrogant, but I think we deserve to continue because of what we've done in recent years. But at the same time we have to do it again, we have to be up there. If that is not the case, the club must find a solution.'
City have lost their last four games in all competitions – their worst run of form during Guardiola's eight years at Manchester.
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