Pep Guadiola provides fitness update on five players ahead of Chelsea clash

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided an update regarding five first-team players who have recently been sidelined with injuries ahead of Saturday's Premier League showdown with Chelsea.

The Citizens had to cope without defenders John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Oleksandr Zinchenko, as well as midfield duo Ilkay Gundogan and Rodri, for Wednesday's 6-1 victory against Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Cup.

Stones, Laporte and Rodri have been pictured training with the rest of the first-team this morning, however Guardiola has stated that they will need to be assessed to see if they can feature at Stamford Bridge.

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"We still have a few. Some come back a little bit to training, tomorrow we decide if they're ready to play or not. Not all of them [are in contention], some come back, we will see how they react to training and tomorrow we will see," Guardiola told the press on Friday.

Both Stones and Laporte were believed to have been suffering with minor muscle problems, while Zinchenko, Gundogan and Rodri picked up knocks last week.

Having lost each of their last three matches against Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea side, including the Champions League final in May, City seek revenge this weekend as they aim to move level on points with the Blues in the Premier League.