Jack Grealish among the first to respond as Man City star Mateo Kovacic shares fitness update
Manchester City are eagerly awaiting the return of Mateo Kovacic, who has not played since last season, thanks to injury issues.
Amid the 31-year-old’s absence, Man City drew 1-1 at Arsenal in their last Premier League game and sit ninth in the top flight.
Pep Guardiola’s men previously suffered successive defeats to Tottenham and Brighton before hammering Manchester United 3-0 on 14 September.
Meanwhile, Guardiola is set to make several changes to his lineup when Man City face Huddersfield Town in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, 24 September.
Mateo Kovacic returns to Man City training
Football Insider have exclusively revealed that Chelsea have joined the race to sign Man City defender Nico O’Reilly.
Meanwhile, the increasingly imminent return of Kovacic will bolster the Etihad Stadium outfit’s midfield options.
Taking to Instagram on 24 September, Kovacic shared training photos, captioned: “Back in action.”
Jack Grealish commented with two heart-eye emojis, suggesting he, although currently on loan at Everton, is delighted for his teammate’s impending return.
Mateo Kovacic’s return will be key for Pep Guardiola
Even though Man City began their Champions League campaign with a win over Napoli and are now undefeated in their last three games, the Etihad Stadium outfit have struggled for consistency this term.
Therefore, Kovacic’s return will be a welcome one for Guardiola, as he is a quality player who was influential in their 2023/24 Premier League title-winning triumph.
| Man City’s Next Three Fixture Dates | Opponent |
| 24 Sept | Huddersfield Town (A) |
| 27 Sept | Burnley (H) |
| 1 Oct | Monaco (A) |
The Croatia international notched six goals and two assists for the North West side last season, while Guardiola’s midfield is weaker than it was when he had Kevin De Bruyne at his disposal.
Meanwhile, Man City must avoid a cup upset when they travel to Huddersfield Town, as they already appear significantly more likely to win either the Carabao Cup or the FA Cup this term than the Premier League.
Guardiola’s men finish the month with a top-flight clash against Burnley, before a busy October schedule sees them resume their Champions League campaign.