Phil Foden is in line for a Manchester City return in the Carabao Cup clash with Preston tomorrow night.
The 19-year-old Blues midfielder missed the trip to Shakhtar Donetsk last week and the 8-0 win over Watford after suffering with a stomach bug.
The length of his absence – and Pep Guardiola’s recent call for Foden to be more assertive – had started to create speculation on social media that something was amiss.
But Foden is understood to have played for England under-21s in the recent international break whilst not feeling 100 per cent, and the club were concerned enough to send him to a private hospital for tests last week.
After treatment, the problem appears to have cleared up, and Foden was spotted in the players’ tunnel after the Watford match on Saturday, congratulating his teammates and chatting to the manager about his fitness.
He returned to training on Sunday and is expected to be available for the third round tie with Preston at Deepdale.
Foden’s only club football so far this season has been two brief substitute appearances – against Liverpool in the Community Shield and at West Ham on the opening day of the season.
He was outstanding for England under-21s despite his illness, and is sure to figure against the Championship side with Guardiola set to make ten or 11 changes from the team which beat Watford at the weekend.
Guardiola said recently that he felt Foden was still too shy and should be more assertive when it comes to wanting to play, especially as he is now a long-standing member of the first team and is earmarked to replace David Silva when the Spain star leaves next summer.
