Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has delivered a promising update on injured duo Rodri and Abdukodir Khusanov, revealing both players are "better" ahead of Wednesday's crucial Premier League clash with Crystal Palace.
The reigning champions welcome Palace to the Etihad Stadium (20:00 kick-off, UK) with a chance to cut Arsenal's lead at the top to just two points. Guardiola will make a final decision on both players' availability after this afternoon's training session.
Rodri has been sidelined since picking up a muscle injury during City's 2-1 victory over Arsenal last month. The Spanish midfielder's absence has been keenly felt, but his potential return would be a massive boost for Guardiola's title charge.
Meanwhile, Khusanov has been nursing a knock sustained in the dramatic 3-3 draw with Everton. The defender missed last weekend's comfortable 3-0 win over Brentford but is now closing in on a comeback.
"Better. We will see in training this afternoon," Guardiola said when asked about Rodri. On Khusanov, he added: "Better as well. He took a tough knock against Beto when he played Everton. He's better."
The postponed fixture against Crystal Palace presents a golden opportunity for City to pile the pressure on league leaders Arsenal. With the title race heating up, every point matters, and having key players back in contention could prove decisive.
City fans can secure their seats for this must-win encounter, with tickets starting from £43 for adults and £18 for Under-18s. A range of hospitality packages are also available to suit all budgets.
