Manchester City are confident Claudio Bravo and Vincent Kompany will be available for their trip to Crystal Palace on 19 November following each player’s respective injury scares while on international duty.
Bravo hurt a hip during Chile’s goalless draw with Colombia on Thursday in a World Cup qualifier in Barranquilla and limped off during the match. Afterwards the City goalkeeper said: “At this moment it bothers me a lot.”
Although Bravo’s availability for Chile’s game with Uruguay on Tuesday in a second qualifier is in the balance, City believe the 33-year-old will be fit for the game at Selhurt Park.
Kompany was named in Belgium’s starting XI for Wednesday night’s friendly against Holland at the Ajax Stadium but did not start the game because of a reported hamstring problem.
Roberto Martínez, Belgium’s head coach, will assess the defender’s fitness for Sunday’s qualifier against Estonia and City have no concern over their captain remaining with the squad, believing his decision to miss the Holland game is a sign the 30-year-old is managing his fitness better.
Kompany has endured an injury nightmare in recent seasons, having accumulated 30 separate problems since 2012 and a total of 34 following his arrival at City in 2008.
Last month, Pep Guardiola stated the player has made a commitment regarding the need to be more circumspect about his body. This caused Kompany to withdraw from the Champions League group game at Barcelona in October.
