Pep Guardiola has told Yaya Touré that whether the Ivorian returns to his Manchester City side for Thursday’s trip to Arsenal “depends on him”.
An injury to Fernandinho in Sunday’s EFL Cup final victory over Arsene Wenger’s side has left Guardiola without many alternatives at the base of his midfield.
Touré would seem to be the natural choice but the 34-year-old midfielder has not been part of City’s matchday squad in their last four games.
Guardiola confirmed on Wednesday that Touré is fit and available to take Fernandinho’s place, but suggested he is still not guaranteed to be selected at the Emirates.
“It depends on him. It is simple like that,” the City manager said. “It depends on him. If he is coming back who he is, he is going to play. He is fit.”
Fernandinho is a certainty to miss Thursday’s meeting with Arsenal having suffered a hamstring strain at Wembley on Sunday.
It will be the first Premier League game of the season that the 32-year-old Brazilian has missed for Guardiola’s league leaders, though he is yet to be ruled out for the visit of defending champions Chelsea on Sunday.
Raheem Sterling has recovered from a muscle problem that caused him to miss Sunday’s EFL Cup final but is unlikely to recover in time for Thursday’s match.
“Raheem is much much better,” Guardiola said. “I don’t know if he is able to play tomorrow but hopefully Chelsea or Basel [in the Champions League last-16 second leg next Wednesday].”