Vincent Kompany is in line to return to Manchester City’s starting XI for the first time since December but Fabian Delph has been ruled out for up to seven weeks with an achilles injury.
The Manchester City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, said on Friday that he has yet to decide whether his captain will go straight into the team against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and that the next 24 hours will be decisive.
“We’ll see what the starting XI is tomorrow [Saturday],” he said. “We’re not just thinking about one player and one game, we’re involved in a lot of competitions. Maybe we have a lot of criticism when we don’t play well but I’m happy with the squad over the whole season.”
Kompany came through a behind-closed-doors friendly against City’s EDS team and Pellegrini said: “You’ve seen Kompany play for so many years I don’t have to say what qualities he brings, he’s one of the best defenders in the league.
“Every player must play a game when they’re 100%. Vincent has worked for three weeks with no problems. He played 45 minutes in a friendly game against the Under-21s and I think he’s ready to play.
Bacary Sagna and Delph, however, have joined City’s injury list with Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri, Jesús Navas, Kevin De Bruyne and Wilfried Bony already out.
