Why Phil Foden and Rodri are not in Man City squad vs Wolves as Pep Guardiola fear realised

Manchester City take on Wolves in the Premier League but will be without key players Phil Foden and Rodri

Phil Foden

Phil Foden and Rodri have not been included in Manchester City's squad for their opening Premier League game against Wolves.

Pep Guardiola looks to get his side off to a positive start at Molineux on Saturday night, but will have to do it without two of his best players.

Foden and Rodri did travel with the Blues to Wolves but were not part of the 20-man squad named for the match with their recent injury issues leading to the decision to give them more rest.

City did not include Foden for their trip to Palermo after he picked up an ankle knock in training. He has trained with the team this week, but was left out of the squad for the Wolves game as the club aims to avoid another injury.

Guardiola explained last week how Rodri needs to be eased back after picking up a 'big injury' to his groin at the Club World Cup on the back of the ACL that ruled him out for the majority of last season. The hope is that he can play some minutes in the opening three games but City are not expecting him to be 'really fit' until after the first international break of the campaign.

"This is what happens, this is a difficult injury. A year after always you have some muscular problems. We try desperately to avoid it but it's difficult to know exactly how many minutes, how many games.

"And of course he's desperate to play, we need his ambition, his personality, his quality. He was nominated last season the best player in the world so that's why it's really, really important to have him back.

"For me, seeing him in the training sessions and in the locker rooms with a smile, it makes me so happy. He's so close to coming back. But you come back a few minutes and after a few minutes take one day rest, and come back a few minutes... Reading the data is the most difficult thing, to know exactly what is best for him."

Guardiola also spoke on Friday about the problems with having a big squad, explaining that some players were always going to left out as it stands.

"The situation is not easy but they know it. Tomorrow there will be two players in the tribune and when players come back there will be four or five at home," he said.

"It's not ideal but we have a lot of games, every season is more and more and you have to have a squad to compete in every single game."

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