Manchester City have been dealt a major injury boost for the Premier League game against Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon (5.30pm) with England sensation Phil Foden passed fit to play.
First up to the plate in the Premier League title race, Pep Guardiola and his star-studded champions can close the gap on table-topping Arsenal to two points with victory at Selhurst Park and they are close to full strength when it comes to injuries and suspensions. Foden (foot) had been viewed as a slight doubt.
After aggravating a problem against Newcastle last time out, the academy graduate will feature against the Eagles as he strives to continue his purple patch. Foden has not had it all his own way this season, but with four goals in his last three starts the 22-year-old is back with a bang.
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Foden and £100million man Jack Grealish flanked City goal machine Erling Haaland for the Newcastle win and they are, perhaps, set to continue that combination. Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez might have something to say about that, but City also have one eye on their impending Champions League match.
Indeed, there are only 72 hours separating the Palace fixture with a last-16 return against Bundesliga team RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night (8pm). In similar situations previously, Mahrez has been rested to keep him fresh for such important European nights.
Elsewhere, fit-again John Stones (hamstring) could be handed his first minutes since January after being named on the bench seven days ago. Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva will compete for a spot in the engine room as Guardiola contemplates further alterations with Tuesday night in sight.
IN: John Stones, Bernardo Silva.
OUT: Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gundogan.
City predicted line-up vs Crystal Palace (4-3-3): Ederson; Stones, Akanji, Dias, Ake; Rodri, De Bruyne, Bernardo; Foden, Haaland, Grealish.
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