Pep Guardiola gives Rodri injury update ahead of Newcastle vs Man City - 'He knows'

Manchester City have been without Rodri in recent weeks and Pep Guardiola has delivered an update on the fitness of the Spaniard.

Manchester City will be without Rodri for Saturday's trip to Newcastle and Pep Guardiola has urged the midfielder to show patience as he aims to get over his fitness issues once and for all.

The 29-year-old is struggling to stay fit after returning from a lengthy lay-off with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and his latest setback has seen him miss games against Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool.

He hasn't started a game since picking up a hamstring problem against Brentford in the first weekend of October. He has played just one minute of football since then, aborting his comeback attempt after coming off the bench late on against Bournemouth.

Rodri suffered a serious knee injury in September 2024 and although he returned in the final week of last season, staying fit and hitting a level of consistency that took him to the Ballon d'Or in 2024 have proved elusive.

That's why Guardiola is being cautious with his latest return from injury and Rodri will miss the trip to Newcastle as he bids to build up his fitness.

"Rodri is making good steps, it’s almost three weeks since the last step back," said Guardiola. "He knows that he has to take the time to recover mentally and especially physically with the problems that he’s had, to be consistent from now until the end."

Guardiola will also be without Mateo Kovacic after surgery on his achilles, but everyone else is fit for a game that Guardiola expects to be difficult.

"Top, I never see the table at this stage," he said of Newcastle. "Top team, one of the toughest places, difficult games, a Champions League team. They’re doing really well. We’re ready for the challenge."