Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is sweating over the fitness of striker Gabriel Jesus ahead of Tuesday evening's Carabao Cup quarter-final with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
The Brazilian international missed Saturday's 1-0 win over Southampton at St Mary's after suffering a blow to his mouth in the 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion last Tuesday evening.
In Jesus' absence, Raheem Sterling, who netted the winner on the South Coast, led the attack, with Sergio Aguero playing the role of an unused substitute.
But with the hectic Christmas and New Year schedule now under way, Guardiola will be hoping to have as many players as possible available to him, with City playing four times in all competitions between now and Sunday, January 3.
City have confirmed that they are going to monitor the striker, who has netted just three goals in all competitions so far this season, ahead of kick-off.
Should Jesus be deemed fit enough to feature, it is possible that Guardiola will throw the striker in from the start, with the Spaniard likely to rotate his pack, as he often has in the past in the Carabao Cup. Aguero, however, is still struggling for fitness and may not be risked, with huge Premier League encounters with Newcastle United, Everton and Chelsea to come over the festive period.
Elsewhere, centre-back Aymeric Laporte could return to the squad after playing no part in the last three matches. He is understood to be being assessed and could also return, with John Stones and Ruben Dias, who have struck a solid partnership in recent weeks likely to be rested.
On route to the quarter-final stage, City have seen off both Championship side AFC Bournemouth, winning 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium, and beaten Burnley 3-0 at Turf Moor.
Against the Clarets in round four, Guardiola fielded a strong line-up, including the likes of Kyle Walker, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Ferran Torres and Sterling, suggesting that he has his eyes set on aiming to claim a fourth successive Carabao Cup title.
However, the intensive fixture schedule could force Guardiola to rotate his pack.
