Raheem Sterling is closing in on a return to first-team action but is unlikely to be fit in time to face Arsenal on Thursday.

Pep Guardiola says the winger's condition is improving but suggested he would have to wait a little longer before coming back into contention.

Fernandinho, however, is definitely out having suffered a hamstring strain in the Carabao Cup final win over the Gunners on Sunday.

“Raheem is much, much better," Guardiola said.

"I don't know if he can play tomorrow but hopefully Chelsea or Basel [he will be ready].

"Fernandinho tomorrow is out.”

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City need six more wins to be crowned Premier League champions having won 23 of our 27 matches so far this season.

We currently sit 13 points clear of second-placed Manchester United with a game in hand on our cross-town rivals.

Guardiola has placed winning the title at the top of his list of priorities and believes the difficulty of City's next six fixtures means complacency simply isn’t an option.

"We are fighting for the most important title of the season, the Premier League," he said. "More than the Champions League, FA Cup or Carabao Cup.

"We must be focused. The next six fixtures are terrible in terms of quality of opposition. Four are away.

"We think about Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United and away games at Stoke who are playing to avoid relegation. We are going to Goodison Park, where it is always tough game.

"We have tough games to play and we must be focused.

“In sport you forget what you have done - good or bad - and focus on the next one. We think about tomorrow’s game and at the end of the season we may think how was the season.”