Tuesday 8 August 2017 09:34, UK
Manchester City could include Ilkay Gundogan in the squad for their friendly against Girona with the midfielder closing in on full fitness.
Pep Guardiola is hoping to give the Germany international, who damaged a cruciate ligament in December, some game time when City travel to Spain for a training camp next week.
They play Girona three days after starting their Premier League campaign - against Brighton on Saturday - and Gundogan could feature in that match, although Guardiola is adopting a cautious approach because of the long-term nature of the player's injury.
"I think he's close to coming back," Guardiola told the club website. "Maybe he'll get minutes in Girona. I don't know, we're going to ask the doctor because, of course, he was injured for a long time.
"We don't want to take any risks. He has to be strong but, of course, his quality is perfect for the way we want to play.
"He's a guy who plays in the middle and can be a holding midfielder or play in front. In those terms, we're so happy."
Guardiola, meanwhile, has praised the City board for their part in securing the £43m transfer of Bernardo Silva from Monaco.
Silva signed a five-year deal with the club, and Guardiola said: "I'm so grateful - thanks so much to the club for picking him up.
"Bernardo played his first minutes and he was immediately ready to play. Intelligent players don't need time to be involved in the way we want to play."
