'We will talk' - Pep Guardiola gives Man City update on Rodri and Jeremy Doku

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about his returning players after the Premier League draw with Sunderland.

Pep Guardiola will speak with Manchester City medical staff before deciding on the involvement of Rodri and Jeremy Doku against Chelsea. Both players returned from injury in the second half of the Premier League draw with Sunderland as they were needed to replace Nico Gonzalez and Savinho, who could not continue in the game.

Guardiola was glowing about Rodri in particular, given the way he controlled the game in his first meaningful minutes for three months. The Spanish midfielder helped City to grasp a match as they pushed for a breakthrough that ultimately did not come, and did not appear to suffer any physical problems in the game.

With the Chelsea fixture coming as soon as Sunday though, Guardiola will have to assess how much he can use Rodri and Doku given they have only just come back from injury. With Josko Gvardiol benched at the Stadium of Light with 'niggles' and a tired Nico O'Reilly coming off before the hour mark, there will be plenty of question marks over fitness in the squad for the weekend's game.

"It's always what I'm looking for but we have to wait a little bit because he came from one year and a half, he came back and you have to be careful. The schedule is the schedule but always with Rodri on the pitch we are better. Without Nico it would not have been possible because Kovacic is not there anymore and Nico has been outstanding but Rodri is Rodri," said Guardiola.

"Everybody knows it. We are better and people feel better, but we have to be careful. We will see how people recover. In this period to have two games away is so demanding and at Christmas time it always happens. Two tough games at Nottingham Forest and here. We have to see - not much time.

"Rodri is back but both he and Jeremy come form long injuries so we have to be careful. We will talk with the doctors and physios. We will miss Savinho but the more difficulties, the stronger we will be."