Man City Handed Double Fitness Boost Ahead Of Man Utd Clash

Manchester City have been handed a double fitness boost with Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane in the frame to make their debuts against Manchester United this weekend, according to the Daily Mail.

Gundogan joined City from Borussia Dortmund earlier in the summer but has been working his way back to full fitness from a dislocated kneecap which he suffered just before completing his move to the Etihad Stadium.

The central midfielder is on schedule to make his return after the international break and the Daily Mail claim he is now pushing for a place in Pep Guardiola’s squad for Saturday’s trip to Old Trafford after playing in a behind closed doors friendly last week.

The German international was given permission to visit family in Turkey during the international break but returned to training with City on Monday morning and could now make his debut in the Manchester derby this weekend.

Sane is also yet to feature since making a big-money move from Schalke this summer due to a niggling hamstring injury but the newspaper says that the youngster also stepped-up his comeback by playing in the friendly last week.

The 20-year-old is unlikely to start against United but he could make the bench with Sergio Aguero ruled out through suspension after being hit by an FA misconduct charge following a clash with Winston Reid last month.

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Saturday could also see goalkeeper Claudio Bravo make his debut following his move from Barcelona but Guardiola will have to make a late decision over Nicolas Otamendi and Pablo Zabaleta’s availability as the pair won’t return to training until Thursday following their long-haul trip to Argentina.