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Ruben Dias and Rodri expected to be fit to face Tottenham

Record goalscorer Sergio Aguero is also nearing a return after a trouble-hit first half of the season.

Manchester City pair Ruben Dias and Rodri are both expected to be fit for the Premier League leaders' clash with Tottenham on Saturday.

Record goalscorer Sergio Aguero is also nearing a return after a trouble-hit first half of the season.

Defender Dias, who has made a big impact since his club record signing from Benfica last summer, missed the midweek FA Cup win at Swansea through illness.

Rodri is also expected to be available to face Spurs
Rodri is also expected to be available to face Spurs (Martin Rickett/PA)

Rodri appears to have overcome a knock sustained late in the game at the Liberty Stadium but captain Fernandinho remains on the sidelines with a thigh problem.

Manager Pep Guardiola said at a press conference: "Rodri trained quite good today, I think he will be available. Fernandinho is out. Ruben came back today to training."

Aguero has made just three starts this season due to a combination of knee trouble, a hamstring injury and a spell in self-isolation with Covid-19.

The Argentinian is now back in training and theoretically available but, with Guardiola having previously intimated it could be a couple of weeks before he regains full fitness levels, that seems unlikely.

It has been a difficult season for Sergio Aguero (right)
It has been a difficult season for Sergio Aguero (right) (Alex Livesey/PA)

Guardiola said: "Sergio is in training, he made his second training session with us.

"I think except Fernandinho, Nathan (Ake) and Kevin (De Bruyne), the rest of the first-team squad are available."

Playmaker De Bruyne is expected to be out until the end of the month with a hamstring injury.

City host Spurs looking to extend their 15-match winning run in all competitions, which is a record for an English top-flight side.

🗣 @marathonbet🔷 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re

— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 12, 2021

They are also unbeaten in 22 matches since a 2-0 loss at Tottenham in November, but Guardiola insists that counts for little now.

He said: "For statistics it is nice but statistics don't help to win the next one.

"It helps us to be where we are in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup, Champions League and, especially, the Premier League – but no more than that. We have to start again tomorrow to do the next one."

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2Arsenal32225575264971
3Liverpool32218372314171
4Aston Villa33196868491963
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham33139115258-648
9Chelsea31138106152947
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32127134651-543
12Fulham33126154951-242
13Bournemouth32119124757-1042
14Crystal Palace3289153754-1733
15Brentford3388174758-1132
16Everton3298153248-1627
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3379174258-1626
18Luton TownLuton3367204670-2425
19Burnley3348213368-3520
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3237223084-5416


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