Manchester City will take on Southampton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, but they will have to do so without three England stars.
City have had to deal with a number of injury issues this season, with the likes of Jack Grealish, Rodri, Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake all spending time on the sidelines. Kyle Walker, John Stones and Kalvin Phillips are other names on that list, and all three will miss Saturday's Premier League meeting with the Saints.
On Thursday, Walker and City published official statements confirming that the defender had undergone successful surgery after sustaining a groin injury during the Manchester derby last weekend.
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Walker was forced off late in the first half with City already leading 3-0, and after the game, Guardiola said he thought the defender would be out for a few weeks at least. Now the England right-back is in a race to be fit in time for the World Cup, with England kicking off their campaign against Iran in just six-and-a-half weeks' time.
Phillips is also up against the clock, with the midfielder unlikely to feature for the Blues by the time Gareth Southgate selects his squad as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery.
Stones is the third player who Guardiola will not be able to call upon this weekend after the centre-back picked up a hamstring injury during England's recent Nations League fixture against Germany. However, the 28-year-old could return to training in a week or so and so could be in contention for City's trip to Anfield to face Liverpool next weekend.
After missing the 6-3 defeat of United with a calf complaint, Rodri is once again available for selection. The Spanish midfielder was on the bench for City's midweek defeat of FC Copenhagen but Guardiola opted to start Ilkay Gundogan in holding midfield.
After making his return from a knee injury with a substitute appearance against United, on Wednesday Laporte made his first City start in four-and-a-half months.
Up front, Erling Haaland seems certain to keep his starting role. Guardiola quashed fears that the striker had picked up an injury on Wednesday, explaining that the half-time withdrawal of the 22-year-old was so he could have a rest and give others a chance to play.
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