Man City vs Watford: Pep Guardiola gives fitness updates with three injured defenders looking doubtful

Pep Guardiola has said Kyle Walker, John Stones and Nathan Ake will all be assessed ahead of Saturday’s game with Watford, following recent injuries.

Walker picked up a knock in the trip to Madrid last week, where Manchester City progressed to the semi-final of the Champions League, while Stones and Ake both had to be withdrawn in the 3-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday.

Asked in Friday’s pre-match press conference about the fitness of the trio, Guardiola responded: “He [Walker] is getting better. We will see tomorrow.

“A niggle [for Stones]. Little problems, like Nathan, we leave and today we make an assessment, and tomorrow we will decide.”

Therefore, all three are now doubts for the clash with Watford, although given the intense fixture schedule, Guardiola may decide to rotate the defenders and not rush back any players with knocks.

The Catalan coach went on to explain how the packed calendar is impacting his squad’s fitness level.

“When you have just three days between the games, the day after the game the guys who didn’t play, they can train properly,” said Guardiola.

“The other ones, it’s just be fresh for tomorrow and to avoid extra energy and keep the energy for the right time. We cannot forget we have just two and half days.

“We finished at 10 [on Wednesday] and we play at 3 tomorrow [Saturday]. In that time it is just be fresh in the legs and the head.”

Ahead of the Watford game, we’ve taken a look at seven recent injury concerns for City…