Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is glad to have Spain midfielder Rodri back in training but has no idea yet if he will feature at all in this month’s FA Cup final, saying “I’m not a doctor”.

Rodri was expected to miss the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury, rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament in City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September.

The 28-year-old Ballon d’or winner’s absence has been a key factor in a City slump that ended their unprecedented run of four successive English top-flight titles, with Liverpool already crowned champions for the 2024/25 Premier League season.

City, however, have recovered to fourth in the table and are on course to qualify for the Champions League with a top-five finish.

Guardiola’s men will also play Crystal Palace in their third straight FA Cup final at Wembley on May 17 after defeating fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest 2-0 in last weekend’s semi-finals.

“We are really pleased that Rodri is back in the training sessions,” Guardiola told reporters on Thursday during a pre-match press conference ahead of Friday’s league game at home to Wolves.

“The moment the physio and doctor says ‘Rodri can start to play minutes’, after that he will start to play minutes. But the doctors have to tell me.”

The Spaniard added: “It was a difficult injury, seven to 11 months the doctors.

“He feels really good every day making sessions and sessions but we have to avoid making a step backwards or getting injured again. That’s why you have to be careful.

“The important (thing) is one training session, another one, and every time he feels better and better. And when the doctor says ‘Rodri is stable and he can start to play’, after that he is going to come back.”

Guardiola, pressed on whether Rodri would play any part in the FA Cup final against south London side Palace, insisted: “I am not a doctor.”

© Agence France-Presse

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