Man City's injury list: When will Walker & Stones return to give Guardiola more options?

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola still has a couple of injuries in his back-line, but his squad could be up to full strength soon.

Pep Guardiola wants a small first-team squad at Manchester City to ensure that his players get regular game-time and don't spend too long out of the picture.

While it works to help build a close bond within the group, it comes with risks.

A pile-up of injuries can quickly stretch his squad and the Manchester City coach is careful to rotate and monitor his players' fitness in an attempt to avoid any set-backs.

Substitutions are also important and Guardiola has given his academy players minutes as a way to rest key players such as Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva this season.

Still, it's inevitable that there will be some injury blows and the Premier League champions have had to manage defensive injuries this season with various knocks and issues for Aymeric Laporte, Kyle Walker, John Stones and Nathan Ake already.

Here's the latest on Manchester City's missing men...

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How close is Kyle Walker to a return?
The defender has had surgery after suffering a groin injury to his left leg during the first half of City's 6-3 win over Manchester United.
Walker has not been ruled out of contention for England's World Cup campaign and Gareth Southgate will be hopeful he will be back, with Chelsea's Reece James a major doubt.
A timeframe has not been put on Walker's recovery but he is not expected to be part of the City squad before the Premier League is put on hold for Qatar 2022.
"I'm feeling better than I expected," he told Radio 5live. "Due to the current circumstances, my first thought now is getting back for England, that's the main target that I've got, to get to the World Cup.
"Hopefully, if I make that, we'll see. But after that, I'm fully focused on Manchester City."
Expected return date: Targeting the World Cup with the first game against Iran on November 21.

What happened to Kalvin Phillips?
The midfielder has had an operation on his right shoulder after having problems with it since moving from Leeds in the summer.
He suffered a problem in a friendly with Barcelona in August and had a fresh setback in training ahead of the win over Wolves before the international break.
Phillips has suffered from the injury in the past and Guardiola says it was the right decision to have surgery, with the hope that he will back in time to join up with England for Qatar 2022.
"He feels good, the surgery was good and his mobility is getting better," Guardiola said.
"He took the right decision, otherwise he couldn't move forward - every training session or every two or three games he was out.
"Now he's solved the problem and as soon as he's ready come back and hopefully he can get back in time to go to the World Cup and after that come back with us."
Expected return date: Should be ready for the World Cup.
When will John Stones be back?
The defender suffered a hamstring injury in England's draw with Germany during the Nations League.
As the last international before the World Cup, Stones looked concerned about the injury but the prognosis was better than first feared.
The 28-year-old has now returned to first-team training and is in the squad for the Premier League clash with Brighton.
"John trained with us for the last two days and tomorrow he is on the list," the City boss said in his pre-match news conference.
Expected return date: In the squad to face Brighton on October 22.

How close is Kyle Walker to a return?

What happened to Kalvin Phillips?

When will John Stones be back?