Man City must get key decision right - it could define their season

Rodri returned to the matchday squad for Manchester City at Nottingham Forest.

There was the welcome sight of Rodri returning to a matchday Manchester City squad on Saturday at Nottingham Forest. The midfield talisman has had an injury-hit campaign having recovered from a serious knee injury in the closing weeks of last term.

He's managed just eight appearances and has suffered with hamstring issues, meaning he hasn't featured since the win over Bournemouth in early November when he came on for the final few moments. Pep Guardiola said earlier this season that the 29-year-old couldn't play three games in a week and then promptly started him against Manchester United, Napoli and Arsenal in September.

The midfielder then missed the league win over Burnley and played an hour in the Champions League at Monaco before limping off early against Brentford. Whether he returned to action too soon in the capital is perhaps up for debate, as is whether the Spain international should have been asked to play three games of that intensity in seven days in September.

Guardiola has since spoken repeatedly about not wanting to risk a further setback for Rodri, talking of minimising the risk. He wasn't called upon as City won at Forest and the Blues boss has said he doesn't expect to see his star man back to his best until nearer the World Cup given the injury issues Rodri has suffered over the past 15 months.

With Nico Gonzalez having stepped up in Rodri's absence, and the festive fixture list being relatively kind in terms of days between games, there is no need to rush Rodri back into the side before he is ready.

It might be a case of little and often as the midfielder is dipped in and out of matches over the coming weeks as City balance his match minutes. Guardiola knows he has to be careful.

"If he can be fit, what can I say about Rodri," he said ahead of the game at Forest. "We have been one year and a half without him. He has been a big loss with us but we had two or three setbacks and we have to be careful with the minutes and when he will be ready. I listen a lot to the doctor and physios. He starts on the bench and will be really important for us."

It's really important City and Rodri get this return to full fitness right. Do so and it could be a defining catalyst heading into the second half of the season.