Man City get Guardiola boost for Hammers clash

By Hughie Southon

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is expected back in the UK on Wednesday to boost Manchester City preparations for the clash against the Irons at the weekend.

He missed his team’s Premier League wins over Sheffield United and Fulham after undergoing surgery on a back problem in August.

Now, however, Guardiola has recovered sufficiently to be expected back when his players will start returning from international duty.

Guardiola may not be able to play a full role following surgery but the City boss is set to be back in the dugout for the game even though he perhaps won’t be as active there.

City have seven games over a period of three weeks before the October international break, with Champions League matches at home to Red Star Belgrade and away to RB Leipzig and a Carabao Cup game at Newcastle filling every midweek between now and the next pause in the domestic game.