Pep Guardiola gives double injury update as Man City defenders miss Bournemouth trip

Pep Guardiola has revealed John Stones and Ruben Dias missed Manchester City’s trip to Bournemouth with injuries.

The City boss had spent the week discussing City injury issues but hadn’t mentioned Stones, while Dias was described as ‘struggling’ on Wednesday night but was expected to be involved on the south coast. However, the pair missing out on Saturday somewhat offset the positive news that Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku and Savinho were back for the Bournemouth game.

Speaking ahead of the match, Guardiola was asked about Stones and Dias’ absences and said that they will be ‘will be out for a little bit of a long time’.

The City boss is likely to provide more information after the game, and explain how Walker, De Bruyne and Doku were available to return, with Guardiola ruling the trio out until after the international break in the last week.

With Stones and Dias missing, City named a back four of Walker, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol. Akanji had also been a doubt in the build-up after being forced to drop out late on against Tottenham Hotspur in midweek, while Gvardiol had been another minor concern.

In midfield, Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic were joined by Phil Foden - who has scored in all of his last five games against the Cherries. Erling Haaland, who started up front, has a less-favourable record and has netted just once in four appearances against Saturday’s opponents. Either side of City’s no.9, Guardiola selected Portugal attackers Bernardo Silva and Matheus Nunes.