"I hope and trust Rodri to return soon"- Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has expressed optimism for the official return of Rodri from injury, believing the Spanish midfielder is doing everything he can to be back at his best.

At the beginning of this campaign, Rodri sustained an anterior cruciate ligament tear which has seen him sidelined for the last eight months, leaving Manchester City hugely affected in midfield.

However, in the last few months, the Spaniard has made some progress in training, and Pep believes the current Ballon d’Or winner is sure to return to help the team before the end of the season.

Speaking in the pre-match presser of City’s FA Cup quarter-final clash against Bournemouth, Pep gave an update on Rodri’s progress and potential return, saying: “For him to be back? Back for the Club World Cup?, I wish and I hope he can. He is behaving really well on the pitch already but competition is completely different so we will see. Step by step, we trust Rodri.”

Bournemouth host City at the Vitality Stadium in the FA Cup, a competition in which they have averaged four goals in their five games, but Pep’s side will be looking to end that feat come Saturday afternoon.