CITY V LEICESTER CITY Boost for Blues as big players return

PEP Guardiola will consider John Stones and Sergio Aguero for City’s match with Leicester.

Aguero picked up a knock in the 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough a fortnight ago while Stones has not been seen since the 3-0 win over Hull last month.

But they have returned to train with the squad in recent days and the Blues boss confirmed they are in contention to feature against Craig Shakespeare’s side.

“There are no injuries except [Ilkay] Gundogan and [Claudio] Bravo,” he said. “Sergio trained in the last few days and the rest are OK. Like Sergio, John Stones trained with the group the last two or three days as well.”

Stones will have to break up a successful partnership at the back if he is to return. Nicolas Otamendi and Vincent Kompany have kept three clean sheets in their past five games together in the England international’s absence.

Aguero’s availability, meanwhile, opens up the possibility of starting the Argentine alongside Gabriel Jesus.

Guardiola has talked up the partnership and the pair were used together against Middlesbrough, but there were mixed results.

The coach indicated that Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling could not be accommodated into such a side because of the amount of running required, and it may need more time on the training ground before the team is ready to carry out the gameplan. DAVID Silva admits Pep Guardiola must target an unprecedented clean sweep after ending up trophyless this season.

But the Spanish international believes City are primed for success after a year of working with the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager.

This is the first time in eight years of management Guardiola has ended a campaign without silverware.

He was expected to deliver the Premier League title in his debut season at the Etihad – as well as turn City into a genuine force in Europe.

But it has been a chastening campaign for the Catalan – who needs to win his last three games of the season to guarantee Champions League qualification.

Silva admits that is the priority – but is convinced Guardiola can lead a new era of success at the club.

“What makes him so special is the fact that he gives you all the keys to win the next game,” said Silva. “He foresees things that are going to happen and then they happen during the match.

“He’s the best at reading the game.

“Next season we need to fight for everything, for all the trophies.

“This season, it’s been our first contact, the change of an idea.

“The team understands the ideas clearer now and next season we will go all out.

“We need to win. We have clear ideas now and I’m sure there will be other players coming that will help us to achieve our goals.“

City face Leicester today knowing another three points will move them a step closer to securing a top-four finish.

They are currently three points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal, and four ahead of United. They could also leapfrog Liverpool if they win their game in hand. Silva added: “For me, it’s been a good season, but when you don’t win trophies you feel a little bit disappointed. We are here to win trophies. “It’s Pep Guardiola’s first season, he is changing some ideas of football and the way of play. “We are doing something for the near future and I think we are achieving it little by little. “We had good games at home against top teams – Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool. Those games we played really well, but we didn’t get all we deserved. “Next season, we can’t let those games go. “We have played one match less than Liverpool and they are just one point ahead of us. “We need to win our three matches and we will be directly through to next year’s Champions League.” David Silva