Sergio Agüero is hopeful of being available for Manchester City’s home game with Stoke City on Saturday in what would be a surprise early return from the rib injury the striker suffered in a car crash less than two weeks ago.
Agüero broke a rib in Amsterdam when the vehicle taking him to the airport after a pop concert crashed into a pole on 28 September, two days before City won 1-0 at Chelsea in their final match before the international break. The Argentinian was expected to be ruled out for around six weeks yet it is understood he will undergo a late fitness test before the Stoke game.
While Agüero missed Argentina’s final World Cup qualifiers, he resumed light training at the club on Tuesday morning. The 29-year-old’s response to this first session back was encouraging and so Pep Guardiola wants to wait until the final moment before determining Agüero’s fitness to play.
City, who announced on Wednesday that the former Blackburn Rovers winger Jason Wilcox has been appointed the club’s academy director, are unbeaten in all competitions and lead the Premier League on goal difference ahead of Manchester United. Before his injury Agüero had been instrumental in City’s fly start, scoring seven times in eight appearances.
United go to Liverpool for Saturday’s early match with José Mourinho receiving a welcome boost regarding Phil Jones. The central defender was forced out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad because of a knee injury but is expected to be available for the trip to Anfield.
Mourinho will be without Marouane Fellaini because of a serious knee problem. The midfielder had been impressive form, scoring four times in six appearances for United, but strained medial ligaments in Belgium’s 4-3 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday. Fellaini is unlikely return until next month and as Paul Pogba has a serious hamstring problem, Mourinho has Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera as his sole frontline midfielders available to face Liverpool.