Sergio Agüero is in a race to be fit for Manchester City’s trip to Arsenal on 21 December. The striker is still suffering from a kick on a heel he suffered in the victory over Southampton on 28 November and is definitely out of Swansea’s visit to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
“I hope he will start working with the squad Tuesday or Wednesday,” said Manuel Pellegrini, the City manager. “We play on Monday against Arsenal so we hope he will be fit for that game. Agüero is improving but he will not be ready for this weekend.”
Despite the doubt over the Argentinian and Wilfried Bony being City’s only other frontline striker, Pellegrini does not plan to buy a goalscorer during next month’s transfer window. The Chilean said: “No, for the moment, nothing changes because we have a squad that we think is the best squad in this moment for the team.
“I don’t think we need to make changes so we continue the same way with Wilfried, with Kun, [Agüero] with [Raheem] Sterling and with Kelechi [Iheanacho].”
Pellegrini has Martín Demichelis back, though the defender is still nursing an achilles problem. “He had a problem with his tendon but he is in the squad list,” said the manager. “Fernando and [Pablo] Zabaleta are not ready yet – Fernando has just a muscle injury so he will have at least two or three weeks more. Pablo and Vincent Kompany I hope next week they can start working. Samir Nasri is more long term.”
Bony came off the bench to score City’s final goal in the 4-2 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach that ensured Pellegrini’s team topped their Champions League group. Pellegrini said: “We are very pleased with Bony because he knows maybe that he was not playing well but we must remember he also came from a long injury – first with malaria and after that he had to play again after he had recovered for two or three days after the muscle injury against Aston Villa. He didn’t do it against Stoke but he did a very good performance against Borussia. I am very happy for him and for the team.
“I think he can be an impact in the starting XI or on the bench. The mentality of the player is very important when they don’t start a game – when they go in to try to do their best. We always win or lose the game with 14 players, not just 11.”
Bony may face his former club on Saturday. “We will see tomorrow,” said Pellegrini. “We don’t have too many players so of course he is in the squad list.”
