Why Rodri is missing for Man City vs Burnley as new target set

Manchester City are back at the Etihad to play Burnley but there will be no Rodri in the squad

Manchester City hope Rodri will be available for their Champions League trip to Monaco after the midfielder was forced to miss the Premier League game with Burnley.

The Spaniard started three games in a row last week, playing against United, Napoli and Arsenal to help the team to three positive results. While he asked to come off against Napoli, the Ballon d'Or winner returned for the game at the Emirates and put in another impressive shift.

Those games took their toll on Rodri though, who suffered an ACL injury last September and then had a problem with his groin for six weeks after the Club World Cup. He was not involved for the Carabao Cup game with Huddersfield in midweek and was again missing for the match with Burnley.

City are trying not to overload the player as he comes back from serious injury but are targeting his return for Wednesday's match with Monaco in the Champions League. There, the Blues will look to make it six points from the opening two games in the group phase as they aim to improve on last season's disappointing run.

Mateo Kovacic is back in the squad for Burnley, on the bench for the first time this season after recovering from Achilles surgery in the summer. The Croatian has not played for the Blues since last season and missed the Club World Cup with injury but has completed his rehabilitation.

Divine Mukasa keeps his place on the bench after making his full senior debut against Huddersfield in the week, while Ryan McAidoo could become the fourth academy player to make his debut in a week if he gets off the bench.

In Rodri's absence, Nico Gonzalez starts again. The midfielder played at Huddersfield for his first start in five matches and was given several lengthy debriefs from Guardiola over the course of the night.

"Nico’s a guy who listens a lot and wants to improve and asks me what to do in different circumstances," Guardiola said. "When you are on the pitch, it's better because you are there and can explain better.

"Nico is a young lad and he is incredibly coachable. When players want to be coachable, it's a gift for all the managers.

"There were others who it is more difficult to tell them. These guys must be helped until the end and he has to realise especially in the second half as much as we were able to contact with him and make control forward and break the lines, every time was a chance.

"Three times in the second half we broke the lines with Phil [Foden], Rico [Lewis] and a winger arrived it was a chance. He has to use more and more. He has this potential to do it. In the next games, in his process he will get it."

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