Tuesday 4 April 2017 16:49, UK
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he is hopeful forward Gabriel Jesus will be fit before the end of the season.
Jesus arrived at City from Palmeiras in January and made a big impact, scoring three goals in four games, and was selected in the starting line-up ahead of Sergio Aguero.
However, the 20-year-old suffered a fractured metatarsal early on during City's game at Bournemouth on February 13 and there was some concern that he might be out for the season.
But Jesus was back in training on Monday and Guardiola says he may be available towards the end of the campaign.
Asked about Jesus at his Tuesday media briefing, Guardiola said: "Yesterday is the first day he ran and walked on the pitch.
"I don't know how many weeks he needs, but he is at the end of the process to come back.
"Hopefully he can help us in the last games of the season."
Guardiola thinks Bacary Sagna will be sidelined for another two or three weeks, but says Pablo Zabaleta is fit.
Fourth-placed City are currently 11 points behind Chelsea ahead of their clash with the leaders on Wednesday night at Stamford Bridge.
Guardiola thinks not playing in Europe this season has given Chelsea an advantage in the title race but admits that Antonio Conte's side deserve to be top of the table.
"They play less games, they have more time to prepare," said Guardiola.
"But Chelsea will be in Europe next year and they have the quality to compete.
"Chelsea deserve to be where they are. They have won a lot of games and deserve their position."
Chelsea won the reverse fixture 3-1, a game notable for the late dismissals of Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho.
Guardiola felt the actions of the duo were far from typical and added: "We can talk about many things but we can never say Sergio Aguero is not calm.
"What happened in that game was many things. We were 1-0 up, we create unbelievable chances. Then circumstances we cannot control changed it. It was amazing.
"The reaction with Sergio and Fernandinho was our frustration. Fernandinho is one of the nicest guys I ever met. Aguero and Fernandinho are nice guys."
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