PEP GUARDIOLA hopes key defender Aymeric Laporte could be back in full training with Manchester City next week.
The French defender has been out since the fourth game of the season with a serious knee ligament injury.
City initially feared the £57million ace would be out until February or March after he suffered the setback against Brighton.
But Laporte has made good progress and the latest update suggests he could be back in contention before the end of January.
Guardiola said: “He is getting better. He is training alone but already on the pitch and I think, yeah, it is the last part.
“I think in one week or maybe ten days be can come back and can start to train with us.”
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Laporte’s absence has left a huge hole in the City defence over the last four months – and has been blamed for them slipping out of the title race.
The domestic cups and the Champions League are now likely to make or break City’s season – and getting Laporte back will be a huge bonus.
Meanwhile fellow centre back John Stones is back in the squad for the visit of his former club Everton on New Year’s Day.
The England ace suffered a hamstring injury in the derby defeat to Manchester United in early December but is now fit again.
Club captain David Silva was also sidelined in the same game and is also back in contention.
Guardiola said: “I miss all the players that are injured. I like to have all the squad available and training with us. I don’t like to see players injured. They are back.”
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