Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hinted that Germany winger Leroy Sane could return for his side's Premier League showdown with Arsenal.
A key player for the former Barcelona and Bayrern Munich boss in his first title-winning season, with Mikel Arteta his assistant manager, the ex-Schalke forward has since fallen down the pecking order.
He is yet to feature for his club this season with speculation growing over a potential return to the Bundesliga in the near future.
Sane is said to be a player of interest for Bayern Munich after the German champions missed out on signing Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi.
In his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Arsenal, Guardiola spoke positively about the 24-year-old's progress and suggested he could have a role to play against his old mentor Arteta.
"He's getting better every week," said the City boss. "He's training. He's not injured.
"We are going to decide but he was ready weeks ago. I have many thoughts [on whether he will play]. All good thoughts."
Guardiola has previously credited Arsenal head coach Arteta for bringing out the best in Sane and his fellow winger Raheem Sterling during his time as assistant to the Catalan at City.
Their reunion at the Etihad, if the German were to play a role in the game, could add an intriguing side plot to the meeting between the Gunners and last year's Premier League champions.
Sane scored 10 goals and set up 15 assists in City's first title-winning season under Guardiola. His absence from Germany's World Cup squad in 2018 was even blamed for their failure to retain the title they won in Brazil in 2014.
