Man City have a number of injury concerns to monitor during the international break, with Rodri, Abdukodir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri all currently sidelined
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 05: Rodri of Manchester City applauds the fans during the warm up prior to the Premier League match between Brentford and Manchester City at Gtech Community Stadium on October 05, 2025 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
(Image: Justin Setterfield, Getty Images)
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Manchester City are sweating over the fitness of key players as they head into the second international break of the campaign. City secured a narrow 1-0 victory away at Brentford on Sunday afternoon, with Erling Haaland's first-half strike proving decisive.
The result leaves City just three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal. Boss Pep Guardiola now has a fortnight to get his squad ready for their next Premier League fixture, with City not returning to action until Saturday, October 18, when they welcome Everton to the Etihad Stadium.
Rodri was withdrawn during the opening period of the Brentford clash with a hamstring problem and won't feature for Spain during the international window, sparking concerns over a potential extended absence. However, the midfielder himself has offered an encouraging assessment following the match.
"I'm good," he said. "I felt a little bit in the hamstring but it seems like it's not that much. The important thing was the victory.
"I stretched the leg a little bit, a bit like in the Euros final. I stretched a little bit but it's part of the process.
"I don't feel that I feel tired muscle wise, I feel fresh but the most important thing is it's not that big.
"It's part of the process. The good thing about this is you get out, you don't let the muscle stretch now. The good thing is the break so it will be even better in this sense to recover these days and hopefully I can be in the next game."
Rodri of Manchester City receives medical treatment to an injury
Rodri went off in the first half with an injury
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City could be in for a significant boost with the potential return of other key players. Abdukodir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri may all be fit to face Everton.
Khusanov is on the mend after an injury sustained against Arsenal last month saw him pulled at half-time, while Marmoush is recovering from a knee injury picked up during the last international break.
Despite suffering an ankle injury on his debut against Tottenham Hotspur, Ait-Nouri was not included in Algeria's squad for the international break, but he could rejoin City training towards the end of the current break.
This means that City could potentially have all three players back in action for the Everton match. Along with the potential availability of Rodri, it will provide a big boost to Guardiola's team.
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