Manchester City handed injury boost ahead of Community Shield v Manchester United

Manchester City were handed an injury boost on Tuesday as the Premier League champions returned to training.

The session at City’s CFA base saw the return of nine players who participated in international tournaments this summer, along with those who featured during the pre-season tour of America. It was the first opportunity Pep Guardiola has had to work with the majority of his players since May.

There were two notable inclusions in the session on Tuesday, with both Ederson and Rico Lewis part of the group. The former missed City’s final game of pre-season due to a minor injury, while Lewis was replaced in the win over Chelsea with a knock.

But their participation in Tuesday’s session raises hopes that both will be available when City face Manchester United in the Community Shield on Saturday.

The Blues will be without Kyle Walker, John Stones, Rodri and Phil Foden at Wembley, however, with the quartet yet to return to City following their runs to the final of Euro 2024 with England and Spain.

As for United, they have also welcomed back their international stars to training, with Altay Bayindir, Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes, Facundo Pellistri, Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee seen at Carrington over the last week.

Despite the returning stars, United face several injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s derby, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Will Fish picking up injury issues at the end of the club’s US tour. Jonny Evans was also replaced in the final friendly against Liverpool through illness.

Leny Yoro and Ramsus Hojlund have been ruled out completely ahead of the weekend due to injuries picked up in last month’s defeat to Arsenal.