Manchester City switch their attention back to domestic football this weekend as they prepare for a demanding Premier League trip to West Ham United.
Pep Guardiola’s side endured a difficult evening in Europe during the week, suffering a heavy 3–0 defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash.
The result leaves City with a challenging task in the return leg, but their immediate focus now turns to maintaining pressure on Arsenal in the league title race.
The Cityzens still possess a largely healthy squad as the season approaches its decisive months. Guardiola confirmed during his pre-match media briefing that striker Erling Haaland is available again, easing concerns about the Norwegian’s fitness.
Haaland had missed last weekend’s FA Cup victory over Newcastle United but returned to action in the Champions League tie in Madrid.
While the forward line appears strong, a few members of the squad remain unavailable as they continue their recovery from injuries. Some are nearing a comeback, while others may still face a longer wait before they return to competitive action.
Midfielder Mateo Kovacic has endured a disrupted campaign after sustaining an ankle injury earlier in the season.
The Croatian international picked up the problem in October, and the setback has limited his involvement during what was expected to be his first full season as a key option in Guardiola’s midfield rotation.
Despite the frustration surrounding the injury, there is encouraging news for City supporters. Kovacic has now resumed training with the first team, suggesting his return to competitive football may not be far away.
Guardiola previously indicated that the midfielder would likely be available again during the closing stages of the season, and the latest update suggests that timeline remains on track.
The club’s medical staff have been carefully managing Kovacic’s rehabilitation to ensure the ankle issue does not reoccur.
With City competing on multiple fronts, the return of an experienced midfielder could provide valuable depth during a demanding run of fixtures.
Another player edging closer to a return is academy defender Max Alleyne. The young centre-back has not featured since City’s FA Cup victory against Salford earlier in the competition, where he suffered a knock that kept him out of recent matchday squads.
However, there have been positive signs in training this week. Alleyne was spotted taking part in first-team sessions on Tuesday as City prepared for their trip to Spain to face Real Madrid. That involvement suggests the defender could soon be back in contention.
The expectation is that Alleyne may return sometime in March if there are no further complications. While he is still developing his experience at senior level, his availability would provide additional cover in defensive areas during a busy period.
Lewis still recovering, Gvardiol faces longer wait
Full-back Rico Lewis remains unavailable after sustaining an ankle problem that has sidelined him for several weeks.
The young defender has become an increasingly trusted option for Guardiola thanks to his tactical intelligence and versatility, often moving into midfield during possession phases.
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Unfortunately for City, the England youth international is not yet ready to make his comeback. Guardiola provided a brief update ahead of the West Ham fixture, explaining that Lewis is still dealing with lingering effects from the injury.
“Rico still has a little bit of swelling in the ankle,” said Guardiola ahead of the trip to West Ham.
Because of that ongoing swelling, Lewis has not yet returned to full training with the rest of the squad. The club’s medical team will continue to monitor his condition carefully before giving the green light for his return.
Josko Gvardiol on the other hand is yet to recover from his long time injury and he’s not expected to be back in the coming weeks.
