Laporte steps up training but won’t be rushed back to action says Pep
AYMERIC Laporte has already returned to training with City’s firstteam squad – and will step up his rehabilitation next week.
But Pep Guardiola said the Blues defender will need time to get back to match fitness and cannot put a timescale on his comeback.
Laporte has been missing since September, when he damaged knee ligaments, which required surgery – and City want to ensure he is fully fit again before the resumption of the Champions League with a last-16 tie against Real Madrid next month.
And Laporte is right on schedule for that, after Guardiola said: “Yesterday (Thursday) was the first time he trained ten to 15 minutes with the team and today again. The rest (he trained) individually and he is getting better. He feels good, I think next week he will complete all the training sessions with us.”
And when asked when he will be back playing, he said: “I don’t know. You think about it but I think he will dictate with how he feels, he has been out for four months and needs time, so it is not like he can immediately play 90 minutes.
“What is important is he has not had any setbacks during his time out – the same with Leroy (Sane) – and that is incredibly good. I’m grateful to the physios.”
Ederson was suspended for the win over Sheffield United but was then missing with illness, along with Nicolas Otamendi, as the Blues beat Everton on New Year’s Day.
But Claudio Bravo, who stood in for both games after taking over when the Brazil international was red-carded at Wolves, is expected to resume against Port Vale in the FA
Cup third round tie today as the designated cup keeper, while Otmendi is not well enough to be considered.
“Ederson was sick, he woke up the day of the game very bad. He trained today, he feels better,” said Guardiola.
“Nico is not able (to play) but he’s getting better. In the next days he can be in the squad.
John Stones returned to training last week and although the club have been cautious with him after he suffered three thigh injuries already this season, he is set to return against Port Vale.
Aleks Zinchenko was an unexplained absentee from the squad for the Everton game. He made his first Premier League start for three months in the Sheffield United game but was not in the matchday 18 three days later.