John Stones and Kyle Walker are back in training ahead of PL’s final clash with Gerrard’s.
A little about the topic
Man City were given a significant boost ahead of their final game of the season with the return of the England duo to training. Guardiola ruled them out for the remainder of the campaign after they suffered injuries while playing in the Champions League. The city has gone through a crisis in recent weeks, with Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias also vanishing from the heart of the defense with their own setbacks.
Man City will face Gerrard’s Aston Villa on Sunday and they need a win to claim their fourth PL title in five years. Fernandinho was supposed to work alongside Laporte in central defence, while Zinchenko played at left back. But they were less than convincing in the West Ham draw when Man City had to fight two goals down to save a point, with Jon and Kyle returning in perfect time.
What did Kyle Walker say?
Kyle was limping from a return loss to Real Madrid on 4 May but did not give up hope of playing again despite Pep insisting his season was over. Kyle Walker said ahead of the West Ham draw that he wouldn’t say his ankle was perfect, obviously he had two very bad injuries in two games, but he’s hopeful. According to Walker, he still has hope until the end of the season, until that whistle blows in 90 minutes at the Etihad against Aston Villa, that’s when he will say his season is over and get some rest.
Kyle is hopeful the week before he joins England but he still has hope for tomorrow, he still has hope for next week as he says until the season is over he won’t. John, meanwhile, has not played since straining a hamstring injury in the first leg against Real Madrid on April 26. In the past, the center’s back had muscle injuries, but it was hoped that the latest setback would not be so serious.
His return will be the biggest push as Man City are undefeated this season when he and Aymeric Laporte were the center defensive pairing. Pep is due to speak at a press conference on May 20 where they will likely provide an update on the English duo and whether they will be able to play or not.