Guardiola to assess squad after Monday training with Ait-Nouri back from AFCON

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Pep Guardiola says he will assess the fitness of his squad this afternoon on the eve of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.

City take on Newcastle in a 20:00 (UK) kick-off at St James Park as the Blues aim to put ourselves in a good position ahead of February’s second leg at the Etihad.

Guardiola says there are some fitness concerns in the squad ahead of the clash with the holders but will take an informed decision on his team to face the Magpies after today’s training session.

He stressed he wouldn’t be taking any chances after already having the likes of Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Oscar Bobb and Savinho out of late.

Meanwhile, Rayan Ait-Nouri exited the African Cup of Nations with Algeria this weekend in the quarter-final stage to Nigeria and is fit to face Eddie Howe’s side although the boss said a decision would be taken on the availability of the left-back after his late return from the tournament.

“We’ll see after training,” he said of team news for Tuesday.

“We have some players with niggles so we will see how they feel tomorrow.

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“Rayan has come back from AFCON and missed a connection so was a little bit late. We will see how he feels.

“We will not take risks for players who could get injured again.”

Dias is expected to be out for over a month with a hamstring issue while Gvardiol should be out for longer with an ankle problem that required surgery.

Stones hasn’t started for City since our defeat to Leverkusen in the Champions League in November 2025 and his last appearance was coming off the bench in our exciting victory at Fulham the following month.

Kovacic has only played twice for the Blues so far this season – coming off the bench in our 2-0 victories over Everton and Villarreal in October 2025.

Bobb came off in our 2-0 League Cup triumph over Brentford before Christmas and hasn’t played since as he continues his rehabilitation.

Savinho, meanwhile, hasn’t featured since coming off just after half-time in the 0-0 draw with Sunderland on New Year’s Day.

More to follow.

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