Ruben Dias is in contention to be involved in Manchester City’s clash with Leeds United.
Pep Guardiola not ruled out handing centre-back a debut, just days after he became Manchester City’s record signing in a £64.3million move from Benfica.
Guardiola believes the defender could finally fill the void left by Vincent Kompany and solve City’s increasingly fragile defence.
Their problems at the back were ruthlessly exposed by Leicester in Sunday’s 5-2 defeat – and Leeds have already shown their attacking threat with three goals at Anfield against Liverpool at the start of the season.
Dias has had little time to get to know his new team-mates and, with Aymeric Laporte fit again, Guardiola could opt to play the France defender alongside Nathan Ake.
But Guardiola said his new signing was in contention to be in the squad.
He said: “He trained two sessions, he’s done good. He’s part of the team right now, we’ve got training this afternoon and then we’ll decide.”
Ahead of the meeting with Leeds, Guardiola heaped praise on his Marcelo Bielsa, who he considers an inspiration in his managerial career.
“He is probably the person I admire the most in world football - as a manager and as a person,” he said. “I think he is the most authentic manager all the time, in terms of how he conducts his teams, like he is unique.
“Nobody can imitate him, it’s impossible. Especially his behaviour as a person off the pitch and related to the media. I get the pleasure to spend time with him, it’s always inspirational for me.
“The value of the manager does not depend on how many titles as him. My teams won more titles than him, buy in terms of knowledge of the game, I am still away from him.
“His teams are always joy to watch, how honest they are, they always want to attack and produce good football for spectators.”
Manchester City predicted XI to face Leeds United (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Ake, Laporte, Mendy; Rodri, Fernandinho; De Bruyne; Mahrez, Sterling, Foden
