Guardiola gives squad fitness update for Saints | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola is not expecting any of his Manchester City players back from the squad that missed the Champions League victory over Sparta Prague at the weekend.

City have the chance to go top of the Premier League, for 24 hours at least, if we can beat Southampton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday at 15:00 (UK).

Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne were not in the matchday squad for the 5-0 victory over Sparta along with long-term absentees Rodrigo and Oscar Bobb.

The City boss did not give an update on when they could return but said they are unlikely to be involved against the Saints.

Asked at his prematch news conference if Walker and De Bruyne were available he said: “Not yet. I don’t know (when Kevin will be back).

“Of course I would prefer to have all the squad with the amount of games but it is what it is. Hopefully he'll be back soon. I'd like to tell you but I don’t know.”

Guardiola also said that Doku and Grealish would not be ready.

While City could go top, defeat could send the Saints to the bottom of the table, following their return to the Premier League last season.

But despite their results so far, Guardiola has been impressed by their manager Russell Martin and believes they will be rewarded for their performances sooner or later.

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“He will have success,” the boss added. “When this happens you always have success.

“If you change ideas and thoughts, not adjust something four or five at the back.

“If you start to change the thoughts, the players will notice and know you’re not a big believer. Sooner or later the results are coming.

“Always teams have bad results like Wolves but look what happens, we struggled to win.

“Against Brentford, Manchester United, for the first half hour Leicester they start really good.

“They have good moments and courage. The use of [Aaron] Ramsdale is always it’s difficult.

“After Champions League I prefer to play teams higher in the table for better concentration. It is what it is.”