Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Aymeric Laporte and John Stones all remain unavailable ahead of this weekend’s game at home to Watford.

City are in fine form, winning eight straight matches in all competitions, but have been hampered in recent weeks by injuries to a number of first-team players.

Pep Guardiola says De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Laporte and Stones are all progressing well as they bid to recover from their respective setbacks, but admits Saturday has come too soon for them to return to action.

“All of them, they are getting better,” Guardiola said.

“Aymeric is back, he trained the last two or three days, but I don’t know about tomorrow.

"Fernandinho is out.

“Kevin, right now, is not fit, John Stones is not fit either - but the other ones are okay.”

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Meanwhile, the boss has praised Watford ahead of Saturday’s game.

The Hornets currently sit eighth in the table, level on points with Wolves who are just above them in seventh.

They have been superb for much of the season, with the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure, Roberto Pereyra and Troy Deeney all impressing.

Guardiola says he expects this weekend’s game will be one of the toughest of our final nine Premier League fixtures.

“It’s incredible what he [Gracia] has done,” Guardiola said. “It’s one of our toughest of the nine games left. Quality one against one.



“The manager is incredible, Javi Gracia, with what he has done, they achieve a lot of points.

“But it’s the last game before 21 days without Premier League and the international break.

"It’s a few games before end of Premier League and it’s massive for us to take our points."