Man City get huge Kyle Walker boost ahead of blockbuster Arsenal clash as extent of England defender's injury revealed

The full-back pulled up early on in England's friendly with Brazil on Saturday and was forced off after just 20 minutes with an apparent hamstring injury. Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate admitted after the 1-0 loss that Walker isn't a player "who gets injured often", while Walker aired his "frustrations" at the setback. Pep Guardiola has since been left sweating ahead of a top-of-the-table clash with the Gunners on Sunday, but tests on the hamstring problem have revealed it isn't as severe as first feared.

That's according to Sky Sports, who report that Walker's injury is "not thought to be too serious". They add that City are "hopeful" the 33-year-old will be ready to face Arsenal in that crunch Premier League encounter at the weekend. The hamstring issue is described as being "tight" rather than a "strain", with progress on Walker to be monitored over the coming days.

That news will be a major blow for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal's title bid, as both teams sweat on their star players returning from injury setbacks. City man Kevin De Bruyne didn't link up with Belgium to focus on his own rehabilitation, while Gunners ace Bukayo Saka withdrew from the England squad for similar reasons.

League leaders Arsenal take on third-placed City in one of the most important games of the season on Sunday, as those result looks set to shape this year's title race. Defeat to either will be a major setback in their respective bids for league glory, while a draw will allow second-placed Liverpool to pounce when they face Brighton an hour earlier in the day.