Pep Guardiola is expecting Aymeric Laporte back in full training with Manchester City within the next 10 days.
The centre back has begun training alone on the grass recently but he will link up with his teammates and take part in full sessions shortly, according to Guardiola .
Laporte hasn't played since suffering a serious knee injury in August and his absence has been costly for City, who find themselves 14 points adrift of Liverpool heading into the New Year.
Guardiola is reluctant to put a time frame on his return to action, but he's happy to see the 25-year-old back in training.
"He’s getting better. He’s training alone but already on the pitch. He's in the last part [of his recovery]," the City boss said of his £57million centre back.
"In one week, 10 days he can start to train with us."
There is more good news for Guardiola with the return to fitness of John Stones and David Silva , both of whom are available to face Everton at the Etihad on New Year's Day.
Neither player has featured for City since the derby defeat to Manchester United on December 7 but they are now back in training and available to face the Toffees.
"I miss all the players who are injured, I like to have all the squad available and training with us," Guardiola said.
