Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has provided a positive Nathan Ake update ahead of Tuesday's Premier League contest with Tottenham Hotspur in North London.
The reigning champions rose back into top spot by thumping Fulham 4-0 on Saturday, although Arsenal's beating of Manchester United has bumped them back down to the runners-up position with a game in hand.
However, the victory came at a cost, as Ake picked up an early injury and had to be replaced on the 22-minute mark, leading to Guardiola shifting Manuel Akanji to a central role and bringing Kyle Walker off the bench.
Ake is feeling "much better" according to his boss, but Guardiola is still expected to promote Walker back to the starting XI in place of the stricken Dutchman, while John Stones could also be recalled in place of Akanji.
Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol - who netted a brace on Saturday and passed up the chance for a historic hat-trick - should reprise their roles in front of Ederson, as should the indomitable Rodri, now on a 48-game unbeaten Premier League streak.
Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne remain midfield shoo-ins too, but Mateo Kovacic's spot may be at risk if Guardiola wants to take full advantage of Tottenham's depleted left-hand side.
Jack Grealish should recover from a bug in time for Tuesday, but a recall for Jeremy Doku is the more likely scenario, as the Belgian joins a fearsome three-pronged attack also comprising Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, the latter of whom struck his 25th goal of the season in all tournaments at Craven Cottage.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Doku, Haaland, Foden
> Click here to see how Tottenham could line up for this match
Ben Knapton
