Manchester City’s assistant manager Pep Lijnders has offered reassurance on the fitness of Ruben Dias and John Stones, following their absence in the FA Cup quarter-final triumph over Liverpool.
Dias, sidelined since being substituted at half-time during City’s 2-1 Champions League loss to Real Madrid on March 17, also missed Portugal duty during the recent international break.
Stones, meanwhile, withdrew from England duty after being an unused substitute in City’s Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal on March 22, and will be keen to prove his fitness ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
His last outing was a full 90 minutes in the 3-1 FA Cup win over Newcastle on March 7.
Lijnders was confident that neither player is facing a long-term issue.
“Ruben got a knock [on Friday] in the last minutes of training,” Lijnders said. “We are assessing it. I think he had a scan again [on Saturday] so we have to see.
“John, to be honest, I think he will not be long term, but he was not available [on Saturday].”
City’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Arne Slot’s Liverpool sets up a semi-final clash against Championship side Southampton, with the duo expected to bolster Guardiola’s squad ahead of the crucial tie.
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