De Bruyne to face Spurs post training absence as City aim to bounce back london

De Bruyne was absent from City training on Tuesday ahead of Totenham’s EPL match. But Guardiola said t hat he is set to feature for the champions in the crucial clash against Conte’s team

Pep Guardiola has confirmed Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne is available to face Totenham on Thursday despite missing a training session this week.

De Bruyne was absent from City training on Tuesday ater being given time off for personal reasons ahead of Totenham’s visit to the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League.

The Belgium midfielder’s absence was noted when a television crew filmed part of the training session.

But City Pep Guardiola told reporters on Wednesday that De Bruyne is set to feature for the champions in the crucial clash against Antonio Conte’s team.

“He had a personal issue and could not train but today he is back,” Guardiola said.

Guardiola also revealed City centre-backs Ruben Dias and John Stones are also hoping to return against Totenham ater injury lay-offs.

Portugal’s Dias has not featured since the World Cup due to a thigh injury, while England international Stones has missed the past three games with an unspecified fitness issue.

“They are back. They have trained really well in the last two sessions, both. They are in contention,” Guardiola said.

“We are going to train this aternoon and see the way we have to play and who is going to play.”

City are hoping to bounce back ater their controversial 2-1 defeat at arch rivals Manchester United on Saturday.

Arguments raged over the nature of United’s game-changing equaliser, when Bruno Fernandes’ strike was allowed to stand despite Marcus Rashford being offside and appearing to interfere with play in the build-up.

Rashford compounded City’s frustration by grabbing the winner moments later to leave City trailing leaders Arsenal by eight points.

Refusing to let his players feel sorry for themselves, Guardiola has no intention of dwelling on the frustrating result.

“It’s over, it’s past. We are not going to change anything now, so the focus is Totenham. Two minutes later, in the dressing room, that was my message to the team,” he said.

“We have to improve our game, control what we can control. This is what big teams have to do. It is the past, and that is all.”

Guardiola conceded City have not been at their best of late, with the United defeat coming ater a limp League Cup quarter-final loss at Southampton.

“Our fluidity has not been as good as usual. Sometimes, to make chances you need to make a good build-up, put the ball inside to open and spread the defensive lines and we struggled in the last two games,” he said.

Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag says Manchester United’s players have earned his trust ater their blistering form reached nine succesive victories.

Ten Hag’s side extended their impressive run by fighting back from a goal down to beat arch rivals Manchester City 2-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Withunitedjustonepointbehindsecond-placed City, a victory at Selhurst Park would make Sunday’s clash at leaders Arsenal even more significant.

United’s impressive revival under Ten Hag comes ater they suffered back-to-back defeats against Brighton and Brenford to start the season.

The former Ajax coach has been delighted with the way his players have gradually adapted to his demands as the season has gone on.

“The way they transferred the plan (against City) in the game, I think was brilliant,” Ten Hag said.

“You see how they are in possession but also out of possession - the pressing, how we defended the front three of Manchester City I think was really good. I trust them. They were behind the plan fully 100 per cent and they controlled long periods of the game in the first half.”

United have not needed to come from behind, as they did against City, very oten lately.

They have only conceded three goals in their last seven games and the Manchester derby was the only time in that period that they have trailed.

But they did erase a deficit to beat Aston Villa in the League Cup in November and got a stoppage-time winner at Fulham three days later.