Manchester City handed boost as Pep Guardiola provides update on key duo’s availability

City labour to win over Burnley

It was not routine or without scares, but Manchester City continued their fine start to the season by picking up a 2-0 win over Burnley on Saturday.

Goals from midfield pair Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne ultimately settled a scrappy game in favour of the hosts, who once again showed a glimpse of just how costly not signing a striker in the summer could prove to be in the long run.

However, the positive result keeps them two points off top stop occupiers Chelsea, and just one point behind Liverpool, in what is already shaping up to be a title race for the ages.

Pep Guardiola provides update on duo

Two notable absentees from the star-studded City side that took on Burnley were Brazilian duo Ederson and Gabriel Jesus. The pair were on international duty in a red-list country until the early hours of Friday morning, making it nearly impossible for them to play in a 3 pm kickoff on Saturday afternoon.

However, ahead of the trip to Belgium to take on Club Brugges on Tuesday, Pep Guardiola has issued an altogether more promising availability update on the pair in his pre-match press conference.

Speaking on Monday afternoon, the Manchester City boss revealed:

“We see the protocols, they couldn’t land here unless they isolate [for] 10 days,”

“We join them tonight in the hotel. Tomorrow they do the preparations, maybe play, maybe not. They come back with us to Manchester for the routine daily life.”

He continued by pointing out that it should be easy enough for them to play should they be match fit, claiming:

“Both, with Gabriel and Eddy we are together four to five years, we don’t need anything special to be ready.”

“We talk to them, how they feel. They train a day or two there with our physios. We see tonight how they feel,” 

Manchester City currently sit third in their group following a 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint Germain on matchday 2, meaning that the back-to-back ties against Club Brugges, no pushovers themselves, are crucial for their qualification hopes.

Will they pick up a much needed three points?

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