“The only question mark” – Pep Guardiola comments on Jack Grealish fitness issues amid Manchester City future uncertainty | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has delivered an honest verdict on Jack Grealish’s ongoing struggles with injury as uncertainty looms over the forward’s future at the Etihad Stadium.

After playing a crucial role in Manchester City’s treble-winning season, injuries and a major dip in form have marred Grealish’s long-term prospects and have cast his future at the club in doubt ahead of an summer exodus that is likely to see several first-team players depart.

Grealish has spoken on off-pitch struggles and while Guardiola still rates the England international highly – giving him the nod in City’s opening leg of their Champions League last-16 play-off tie against Real Madrid – time is running out for Grealish to prove his value.

Having only come on late as a substitute against Tottenham in Manchester City’s win in North London on Thursday, Jack Grealish would ordinarily be in line to start in an FA Cup fifth round tie against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday evening.

However, Pep Guardiola has reservations over Jack Grealish’s ability to complete 90 minutes successively and the Manchester City boss is unsure if the winger is fit enough to be selected from the off against the Championship side this weekend.

“We’ll see today (Friday afternoon). I don’t know, yet,” said Pep Guardiola during his pre-match press conference on Jack Grealish’s chances of a somewhat rare start for the club against Plymouth Argyle.

Grealish started and assisted Kevin De Bruyne’s winner in Manchester City’s FA Cup fourth round win against Leyton Orient, and in his defence, the forward has had begrudgingly poor luck with injuries in the last 15 months.

Pep Guardiola added on Friday afternoon, “Listen, Jack played at (Leyton) Orient and played really good, and after he played against (Real) Madrid – Madrid is not a friendly game, right? After 20 minutes, he was out for an injury.

“It’s happened this season. And after when you see Jeremy (Doku) now or Savio in that position, it’s obvious that they have to play. But the reason why he didn’t play much, he was not able, because he’s had niggles or problems.

“Like tomorrow (vs Plymouth Argyle), I don’t know if he’ll be ready to play in a game like you have to be there. This is the question, no question marks about his quality. Please, never, ever, ever doubt the quality that Jack has.”

He continued, “For problems, he cannot play three games in a row; playing a game against Nottingham (Forest) good, and after maybe he didn’t play and in the training session was injured again.

“So not big issues, but (Jack Grealish) cannot make a big effort, sustaining again, and again, and again. This is the only question mark – no other one.”

It remains to be seen whether Grealish, who has two years left on his current deal, can prove his fitness and worth to Pep Guardiola in the Premier League and FA Cup run-in, though the current belief in some quarters is that the City boss may be losing patience.