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Vincent Kompany is set to miss to Manchester City crunch title clash with Arsenal - with Manuel Pellegrini insisting he won’t rush his captain’s return from injury.

Kompany has been out since last month with a calf injury.

City hope he will return to training next week - but believe the game at the Emirates a week on Monday will come too soon for the Belgian international.

And Pellegrini, who was so critical of Belgium coach Marc Wilmots for playing his skipper after he’d only just recovered from his last calf injury, doesn’t want to take any risks with such a key member of his squad.

He said: “It’s difficult for a player just to work three days and to be ready to play.

“It’s one thing for a player to be fit after his injury and the other one is to be ready to play.

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“That’s a very important difference, I think that we will see during the week but I think that we have just a few days.”

Pellegrini is desperate to see Kompany return to full fitness at the heart of his defence.

Of the eight Premier League games the 29-year-old has played this season, City have won six and conceded just one goal.

But in seven games without him they’ve conceded 15 and won just three.

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Pellegrini added: “Vincent is always a leader because he is the captain of the team.

“We are doing very well without Vincent, but if you ask me, this team is better with Vincent of course.

“That is why he is the captain and a very important player.”

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