NO SILVA LINING FOR PEP CROCKS

DAVID SILVA has joined Manchester City’s crocked list, leaving boss Pep Guardiola with just 15 fit players for tonight’s clash with Hoffenheim.

Silva (above, right) limped out of Saturday’s defeat to Chelsea with a hamstring injury and Guardiola said he will miss the hectic festive period.

Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, Claudio Bravo, Benjamin Mendy and Danilo are also among City’s absentees and Guardiola said he will not be able to rest as many players as he would have liked.

He said: “Fernandinho not able, David Silva,

Kevin, Sergio, Danilo, no. Fifteen players. Silva will be a few weeks. It’s a muscular problem and he will be out for a few weeks. Sergio maybe for the weekend. “We have 15 players available, so I can not do too much. We are going into a really tough game, but we are in the next stage and that’s important.” City need just a point to guarantee top spot and Guardiola wants to finish first to be at home in the second leg of their last-16 tie.

“We want to go through and finish first,” he added.

“If you finish first or second the last 16 is tough, but to be first and to play at home second is a small advantage.” P W D L F APts Live on Sky Sports 1 from 7.30pm