Man City's crushing Rodri blow as Pep Guardiola breaks silence on five injuries

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Manchester City could be without five key players for their clash with Everton as Pep Guardiola weighs up his selection options. The Citizens returned to training on Thursday following the international break, but Rodri was nowhere to be seen after picking up a knock at Brentford.

The Spanish maestro was forced off with a hamstring issue during that match, and despite hopes he could recover in time for Everton, it appears the fixture has arrived too early for his comeback.

Abdukodir Khusanov is another absentee from training sessions. The defender sustained an injury during last month's clash with Arsenal , and continues his rehabilitation back to full fitness.

Mateo Kovacic looks set to feature, after being named in the last three squads since recovering from Achilles surgery that sidelined him at the start of the season.

Nevertheless, the midfielder is yet to kick a ball for the Blues this campaign and Guardiola emphasised his comeback must be managed carefully.

Speaking during a press conference on Friday, the manager said (via the Manchester Evening News ): "It's a good news, starting for 50, 60 minutes [for Croatia]. Step by step; he has to now give us quality moments, quality time, quality minutes. But step by step, it's important that he's back."

Doubts also surround Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush. The pair haven't featured for City since August due to their respective fitness problems and both were earmarked for potential returns against Everton.

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Both players participated in Thursday's training session and will be hoping for inclusion against the Toffees, though Guardiola remained coy about their availability. He added: "They trained yesterday and they are much better. They are close to coming back."

City are set to face Everton on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium (3pm), where they will hope for more consistency going forward. The Sky Blues sit fifth in the Premier League standings at present as a result of four wins, two losses and a draw.

However, they will be up against stiff competition in a side which David Moyes has revitalised this summer. The Toffees trail City by just two points at present in eighth, and will hope to leapfrog the Sky Blues when they do battle.

They will, however, be without starman Jack Grealish for the encounter. While the Englishman has found a new lease of life since his move to Hill Dickinson Stadium this summer, Everton will be unable to deploy him against City.

That's because Grealish is currently only on loan with the Toffees from the Cityzens, with the Premier League Handbook citing how players are unable to compete against their parent clubs during spells with other teams. The Handbook reads: "During the period of the Temporary Transfer of his contract registration a Player shall not play against the Transferor Club.

"Unless the Transferor Club and the Transferee Club agree in writing that the Player can play against the Transferor Club [a copy of which agreement must be provided to the League in advance of the relevant League Match]."

City and Everton are not understood to have such an agreement in place, meaning he will miss the match altogether.

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