Manchester City receive major double fitness boost ahead of West Ham clash | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola’s first-team options have been boosted by the return to training of two crucial midfield stars ahead of their next Premier League encounter.

Manchester City will be looking to maintain their 100 per cent start to the new season by defeating West Ham United in their second away trip of the ongoing Premier League campaign on Saturday evening.

City have secured victories on the opening weekend against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge via a 0-2 scoreline, as well as demolishing Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town in a 4-1 rout at the Etihad Stadium last weekend.

Both outings have come with their personnel problems, with Rodri missing the two contests having returned to City Football Academy duties short of full fitness, whilst the meeting with Ipswich saw Mateo Kovacic sustain an injury through a collision with Liam Delap.

However, as Manchester City step up their preparations for the visit to the London Stadium following two days off granted by Pep Guardiola, they have been met with two major boosts to their selection options.

European Championship winner Rodri has returned to full first-team training on Wednesday afternoon, Manchester City photos have confirmed, with Pep Guardiola recently stating that the 28-year-old was struggling from some “niggles”.

Elsewhere and Mateo Kovacic is also training as normal after enduring an injury during the last outing in the Premier League, in what could have been a significant blow having put in two excellent performances and recorded a vital strike in the 0-2 win over Chelsea.

Manchester City’s trip to West Ham United will be their final game of the opening portion of the new season, with the September international break now on the horizon and a chance for the players to once again take in new surroundings.

It remains to be seen whether Pep Guardiola will choose to reintegrate Rodrigo into his matchday plans as soon as this weekend, with the midfielder taking in training ground action for only the first time since the summer this week.

Mateo Kovacic has been in fine form in the lone holding midfield role throughout pre-season, and into the competitive campaign, putting in strong performances with support from the ever-impressive Rico Lewis inverting from full-back.