Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has delivered a crucial fitness update ahead of Wednesday's high-stakes Premier League showdown with Crystal Palace—a match that could define the final stretch of the title race.

After a shaky 3-3 draw with Everton that handed Arsenal the momentum, City bounced back in style with a commanding 3-0 victory over Brentford. Jeremy Doku continued his electric form, opening the scoring before Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush sealed the win at the Etihad.

But the big talking point? The absence of Abdukodir Khusanov. The Uzbekistan international was a surprise omission from the squad against Brentford, with reports confirming he picked up an injury during the Everton clash. While the issue isn't believed to be serious, Guardiola may opt to stick with Nathan Aké, who delivered a rock-solid performance against the Bees.

There's positive news on the defensive front too. Ruben Dias was back in the matchday squad after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained ahead of the Carabao Cup final, though he remained an unused substitute. Josko Gvardiol has also returned to full training following a tibial fracture suffered in January, but wasn't quite ready for the Brentford match.

The biggest question mark remains over Rodri. The Spanish midfield maestro has been sidelined since picking up a calf injury in the closing minutes of City's 2-1 win over Arsenal in April. He was again absent against Brentford, leaving fans anxious about his availability for Wednesday's must-win clash with the Eagles.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Guardiola offered a cautious update: "Better, we'll see after training this afternoon." No confirmation yet, but the door remains open for the influential midfielder to feature.

With a domestic treble still in sight and the title race heating up, every player's fitness is crucial. City fans will be hoping for good news on both Rodri and Khusanov as the team prepares for a defining week.