Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has returned to training for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury in September.
The midfielder has been absent since undergoing surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament – an absence which many has highlighted could be a major reason for City’s disappointing campaign.
Despite the return of the 28-year-old coming at a point in the season which many feel could be late, Rodri’s return to the turf sounds a huge boost for City.
Guardiola also revealed the return to training of striker Erling Haaland, having not featured for the club since March 30 due to an ankle problem, although he might not play in Friday’s home clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Rodri will also be monitored by the club’s medical team before a return date is set.
“The moment the physio and doctor say that Rodri can start to play minutes, he will start to play minutes. But the doctors have to tell me,” Guardiola said on Thursday.
“It was a difficult injury. It was seven months to eleven months, more or less, the doctors said.
“He feels really good, every day he’s making sessions and sessions, but we have to make the step to avoid making a step backwards and being injured again.”
Haaland, injured his ankle in the 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win over Bournemouth in March and has missed five league games and Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final win over Nottingham Forest.
City sit fourth in the Premier League with 61 points from 34 games in a battle with six clubs for Champions League qualification, with the top five all assured of a place amongst Europe’s elite.
Wolves, on the other hand, are in sensational form and make their way to The Etihad Stadium on Friday on the back of six consecutive wins.
“I’m not surprised [by Wolves’ form],” Guardiola said.
“In the last few years, I think they have always had really good players, and now they’ve had an incredible run.
“It’s quite similar when Newcastle came a month ago and Aston Villa came. It’s another final for us. We have four finals, and now we go for the first one.”
