Manchester City could have a fully-fit squad to face Newcastle on Saturday, with John Stones and Aymeric Laporte nearing a return from illness and injury problems.
Laporte has missed two games with illness but is back in training, and Stones has been missing for a month with a hamstring problem after limping out of the win at Arsenal.
City could also have had concerns over Stefan Ortega, who was replaced at half-time of City's FA Cup win at Bristol City in the week, but the backup stopper is also back in contention according to Guardiola.
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"They are all trained the last few days, they feel much better," Guardiola said when asked about Stones, Laporte and Ortega, leaving a possible full squad to pick from against Newcastle.
And Guardiola was full of praise for the job done by Eddie Howe at St James' Park, saying the 3-3 draw in the north east at the beginning of the campaign was one of City's toughest games all season.
"He's doing an incredible job, happened last season and this season a step forward, they are here to stay.
"I have seen the final vs Manchester United and what they’ve done all season, one of the toughest opponents we have to end of season. The mentality, transitions, threats, one of the best teams. That’s why they are there.
"They have not been here a long time, always you think they need time, done exceptional recruitment, experienced players, exactly what they need. A manager with huge quality, maybe a surprise but not any more, but I think they’ll stay there."
Newcastle are coming into the game after an anti-climactic Carabao Cup final defeat to United, Guardiola dismissed the suggestion they could be deflated at the Etihad.
He said: "It’s a motivation, next season they have to equal what they’ve done so far, to try to stay for a long time, they have to increase standard every season, that’s the big target when you arrive in a final against Manchester United it gives you motivation for the future."
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