Foden, Dias & Stones: Man City injury news and expected return dates ahead of Spurs showdown

It has been a challenging season so far for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City.

A campaign that started with the aim of claiming an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title has been hampered by a series of injuries to key men that have forced Guardiola to look to the club’s academy for support. The list of absentees remains lengthy - but there are now some hopes that several players could return to contention over the coming weeks and help City end a run of form their manager has rarely experienced during his career in the dugout. Ahead of Saturday’s home game with Spurs, we take a look at the latest injury news and fitness updates from the Etihad Stadium.

Rodri

Has there been an injury that could define a season more than the anterior cruciate ligament injury that has ruled the Spain star out of the remainder of the campaign? The newly crowned Balon D’Or winner is an integral part of the plans for club and country and his absence has had a seismic impact on City Expected return date: Summer 2025

Nathan Ake

A hamstring injury has limited the former Bournemouth and Chelsea defender to just five appearances in all competitions so far this season and just three have come as part of Pep Guardiola’s starting eleven. His recovery is ongoing and Ake is not expected to return for Saturday’s game with Spurs Expected return date: Unknown

Jeremy Doku

The Belgian winger has played just 18 minutes in City’s last five fixtures in all competitions and missed out on a place in Belgium’s squad for their Nations League games against Italy and Israel. A muscular injury also looks set to rule Doku out of the game with Spurs Expected return date: Unknown

Jack Grealish

The former Aston Villa star has missed City’s last three Premier League games with an unspecified injury. That meant he was unable to feature for England during the final international break of the calendar year - but he could return to contention for Saturday’s meeting with Spurs Expected return date: Late November

Phil Foden

Foden suffered a knock ahead of the international break and was not able to be named in the England squad for Nations League games against Greece and Republic of Ireland. However, the City academy graduate will be assessed ahead of the weekend and is expected to be back in contention for the game against Spurs Expected return date: Late November

Matheus Nunes

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder was unable to take his place in the Portugal squad for their recent Nations League fixtures - but Nunes is expected to return to contention for City this weekend Expected return date: Late November

Manuel Akanji

The Swiss international has been a shrewd addition since he joined City just over two years ago and his return from a groin injury will be more than welcome as Guardiola’s defensive injury crisis appears to be easing Possible return date: Late November

Oscar Bobb

Bobb looked set to play a big role in City’s squad this season after impressing during their title-winning campaign last season. However, after suffering a broken leg in training, the Norway international is currently undergoing a painstaking road to recovery and will not return until the new year Possible return date: January 2025

Ruben Dias

The Portuguese defender is always a miss when he is out of action and that has been proven by his absence from City’s last three games. However, there is some hope the centre-back could be back in contention this weekend as he enters the final stages of his comeback from a calf injury Possible return date: Late November

John Stones

The England defender missed the Premier League defeats against Brighton and Bournemouth and was not named in the Three Lions squad for the Nations League wins against Greece and Republic of Ireland. Speaking earlier this month, Guardiola said: “John has a fasciitis splinter in the feet, and today he was not ready. I don't know if he'll be back for the next two games.” Possible return date: Late November