Pep Guardiola confirms Man City star won’t be back in time for Leicester match

Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Phil Foden will not be back in time for Manchester City’s Premier League clash against Leicester City on Saturday.

The 22-year-old has not played for the Premier League champions in nearly a month after he underwent surgery to remove his appendix during the recent international break. The City star has missed the last three matches as a result and two weeks ago Guardiola claimed Foden would be back in ‘two or three weeks’.

Asked for an update ahead of the Leicester game, Guardiola said Foden is still not available for selection. “[He’s] at home. I don’t know,” the City boss said on Foden’s recovery.

“I think he will be back to the training centre to see the doctor. I think he feels better, he spoke to the doctor three days ago, but he is still not ready. When he starts training you will know, through our social media. After that he will be closer to coming back, but still he cannot train with us.

Guardiola also defended Kevin De Bruyne after the midfielder reacted negatively to being replaced during the midweek win over Bayern Munich. De Bruyne threw his arms in the air in an exasperated manner as Julian Alvarez took his place in the second period.

But Guardiola played the incident down when speaking ahead of the Leicester clash. “If I need to speak I will speak but I didn't see him these days,” he said. “It’s normal. It’s not the first time it has happened in modern football, it has happened in other clubs, it will happen in the future.

“I understand completely but in the same time I understand Riyad Mahrez didn't play and Ayme [Laporte] didn't play and Sergio [Gomez] and Kalvin [Phillips] didn't play. When I make a selection I didn’t think about the players I didn’t play. Everyone wants to play, everyone wants to do their best. I understand completely and everyone wants to help the team.

“Can you imagine these seven years without Kevin De Bruyne? It’s impossible. You see the games against Burnley and Southampton. Every game is different and you see in that moment and I could change for Julian. That’s why I am here. Players can believe it’s personal but in that moment I try to do the best to win the game.”