Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City
Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake were both replaced in the midweek win over Nottingham Forest
Manchester City's injury list is slowly shrinking as another absent player made his return to training on Thursday.
City are on a rotten run of one win in 11 and head to Aston Villa this weekend in their final fixture before Christmas looking to arrest their slide. Pep Guardiola had just three available defenders for the defeat against Manchester United last Sunday, although Rico Lewis will return from suspension to be in the squad at Villa Park.
John Stones returned to the matchday squad at the weekend and was set to make his own return, but that substitution was scuppered after United scored late on. And now Stones could be joined by another returning defender, giving Guardiola more options over the festive period.
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Manu Akanji was seen training on Thursday after a short period out, leaving just Nathan Ake on the sidelines among the defence. Akanji had an adductor issue but has resumed training this week after Pep Guardiola gave his squad some time off after the derby to step away from City's losing run.
The development means Ake is the only short-term injury issue, alongside the longer absences of Rodri and Oscar Bobb. Pep Guardiola will update reporters on the health of his squad later on Friday, perhaps offering an insight into how close Akanji is to starting again.
Stones and Mateo Kovacic have made their returns in the last week so may also be closer to starting and easing the pressure on a small group of overworked players who have been forced to play more than planned in recent weeks.