Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has insisted that Ederson is not guaranteed to return to the starting lineup for Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
The Brazil international has not played for the treble winners since hurting his thigh in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool on March 10, missing three successive matches for the Citizens in all tournaments.
In Ederson's place, Stefan Ortega kept clean sheets against Newcastle United in the FA Cup and against Arsenal in the Premier League, before also starting in a 4-1 win over Aston Villa.
Guardiola welcomed Ederson back to the matchday squad for Saturday lunchtime's clash with Crystal Palace, but the 30-year-old took his seat on the bench as Ortega guarded the sticks in that 4-2 win.
Despite conceding twice at Selhurst Park, Ortega went viral for the right reasons, getting his side out of danger with a sublime touch to evade Jean-Philippe Mateta after Rodri had sold him slightly short with a backpass.
Guardiola admits he must "think" about goalkeeper selection
That touch by Ortega... 😮💨
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While Ortega has held his own in between the sticks, Ederson's return to fitness would be expected to spell the end of the German's run in the team as City prepare to meet Carlo Ancelotti's men in the Spanish capital.
Ederson has played in six of City's eight European affairs so far this season, only missing the champions' final two group fixtures against RB Leipzig and Red Star Belgrade before coming back in for the last-16 triumphs over Copenhagen.
However, speaking to the media after Saturday's Premier League triumph over Palace, Guardiola has suggested that the goalkeeper selection is not a foregone conclusion as previously predicted.
"I have to think about it, because Ederson feels really good. I have to decide, but we are really pleased with Stefan. He's an exceptional keeper," the ex-Barcelona boss said.
Despite talking up Ortega's qualities, Guardiola will still be expected to reinstate Ederson to the first XI at the Bernabeu, but the holders still have a trio of defensive concerns to factor in for the quarter-final.
How is the rest of Man City's squad shaping up?
© Reuters
Ederson's return to full fitness represents an isolated piece of good news for Man City on the injury front, as Guardiola could still be without as many as three rearguard members at the Bernabeu.
Kyle Walker is yet to recover from the hamstring issue he sustained while playing for England last month, while Nathan Ake has missed City's last two games with the calf injury he picked up against Arsenal over the Easter weekend.
Guardiola has revealed that the doctors have told him Walker has no chance of making the cut on Tuesday, but the right-back would do his best to prove the medical team wrong, but Ake is set to miss the fixture.
In addition, Josko Gvardiol came off at half time in the win over Palace with a niggle, so Manuel Akanji could be required at left-back on Tuesday, while Rico Lewis might have the daunting task of trying to keep Vinicius Junior quiet on the opposite side.
Ben Knapton
