City given boost with Mahrez fit to face Chelsea
Manchester City’s record signing Riyad Mahrez has been given the all-clear to return to training later this week, despite his injury scare in the club’s final game of their United States tour at the weekend.
The 27-year-old Algeria winger, signed from Leicester for £60 million (Dh289.6m) earlier this month, came off with an ankle injury in the first half of the 3-2 friendly win over Bayern Munich in Florida at the weekend.
After images subsequently emerged showing Mahrez wearing a protective boot on his left foot, his club said in a statement yesterday: “Riyad Mahrez has been given the all-clear to return to training later this week after picking up an ankle knock.
“A scan today has revealed no significant damage, and he could be available for selection for this weekend’s Community Shield against Chelsea.”
Pep Guardiola’s City face FA Cup winners Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on Sunday before opening their Premier League title defence against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium a week later.
City played in the United States without a number of the players that helped guide them to the Premier League title last season.
Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and John Stones are among the players who sat out the tour as they rested following their exertions at the World Cup in Russia.
Among the younger players to feature in City’s line-ups was Brahim Diaz, who could be a contender to feature in the Community Shield having impressed in the US.
The 18-year-old Spaniard believes City can go into the new season with confidence after some good performances.
“It’s been good,” he told City’s website. “We can go on from this and do more. “It’s a team that hasn’t played much together so to play against big clubs like that is a sign that we can do it.”
Diaz said he had enjoyed the opportunity of being around the first team as it had allowed him to work directly with Guardiola and he was impressed,” he said.
“Pep said it’s been a great experience for us and he knows best. Working with him, you learn from him every day. The young players can really benefit from that.