Manchester City defender Kyle Walker has returned to training after recovering from an ankle injury.
The right-back has been out since he sustained the injury against Atletico Madrid on April 13 and has missed five games across all competitions.
Before Saturday’s 4-0 victory over Leeds United, City boss Pep Guardiola refused to rule out Walker missing the rest of the season. The news will be a huge lift to City who have struggled with injuries and suspensions in defence over recent weeks and face Real Madrid in their Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday evening.
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Ruben Dias has only just returned from a hamstring injury, while Nathan Ake hobbled off at Elland Road on Saturday. John Stones went off injured during the first leg against Real Madrid last week and Joao Cancelo missed last Tuesday’s game through suspension. City head to the Santiago Bernabeu with a slender 4-3 lead after a scintillating first leg encounter last Tuesday at the Etihad.
Meanwhile, Kevin de Bruyne believes if City were to win a first Champions League trophy, it would help to change perceptions around the club. He said: “It would change the perspective from the outside. The fact we’ve been fighting for numerous years and getting to the latter stages means we’ve been doing really well. We have not won it but winning it would change that little narrative.”
