Tottenham blow as Man City confirm 'unbelievable' injury boost ahead of Premier League clash

Tottenham Hotspur could face a Manchester City side buoyed by the return of midfield linchpin Rodri later this month as the Champions confirmed a huge injury boost on Friday morning.

The Cityzens have kept Rodri in their Champions League squad for the knockout stages of that competition, suggesting that the 28-year-old’s ACL injury will not be a season-ending one. The Spanish international hasn't played since the 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September.

Manchester City have missed the influential player, enduring an underwhelming Premier League campaign so far. The club sits fifth in the table after 24 matches, 15 points off league leaders Liverpool.

Manchester City midfielder ‘best in world’

Speaking about the player last year, Guardiola said: “He’s an unbelievable player. He’s the best midfield player in the current world by far.

“It’s because he’s able to do everything. So the tempo he has, especially his character when the situation is going wrong, he steps forward to arrive to the box, go backwards, the ability to play short and long. He’s always ready.

“What a signing. Manchester City signed a player that is difficult to understand what we have done in recent years without him. It would’ve been difficult.”

The retention of Rodri in the Champions League squad could point to an imminent return. Manchester City play twice in the Champions League, against Real Madrid, before taking on Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the end of the month.

The return of Rodri would certainly dent Spurs hopes of getting a result against Guardiola's side. In his 11 meetings with Tottenham, Rodri has won five, drawn two and lost four. Rodri put together a 74 match unbeaten run up until May last year.

Guardiola caution on Rodri return

The Manchester City boss has urged caution with the return of Rodri last week. He said: “He’s positive but I don’t know to be honest. An ACL is an ACL. Always I believe in long injuries there’s a time you must respect because of the human body.

“The ACL is the ACL for every football player and every athlete so there is a time. The first month he was in Madrid all the time for the surgery there and then with the doctors and the physios.

“Now it’s lovely to have him here in the locker room. His voice and his presence of course it is important. When he wants to travel to special places, I said to all the injured players of course you can come and it’s nice to have him. Of course, it’s good [The] Most important [thing] for Rodri now is to recover well."

Manchester City did sign Nico Gonzales from Porto for £50 million this week, who can deputise for Rodri should the more experienced star need longer to recover. Speaking about the new arrival this week, Guardiola said: "Nico? He’s really important. It's a position that we’re weak in during the absence of Rodri. A young player, can play number 6 and number 8. Physicality, he's a strong young boy, I know him from the La Masia and his father worked here.”

In other news, Tottenham Hotspur were handed a fresh injury blow in the 4-0 defeat to Liverpool on Thursday night.