Manchester City centre-back Ruben Dias has been spotted back in training after a spell on the sidelines injurywith his potential return coming before a crucial series of games.
Dias has had a muscle problem for the past month, making his last appearance for the club late defeat to city rivals Manchester United in the middle of December. City enjoyed a mini-resurgence after Christmas, stringing together three consecutive wins with performances that weren't all entirely convincing, before collapsing into disaster 2-2 draw with Brentford Tuesday night.
City led 2-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium with less than ten minutes remaining but still conspired to come away with all three points. The reigning champions have already conceded 29 goals in the league – as many as Arsenal conceded all of last season.
During Dia's absence, Pep Guardiola predicted he would be without his quarterback for “three or four weeks”. That difficult recovery period has passed and the imposing defender took part in first-team training on Wednesday with the players who did not start the draw with Brentford.
Dia's arrival can't come soon enough for City. The Sky Blues travel to newly promoted Ipswich Town on Sunday before heading to the French capital for a crucial event. Champions League draw against Paris Saint-Germain. Both modern European giants are flirting with the distinct possibility of failing to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.
After that continental clash, City return to domestic duties with a visit from the top flight Chelsea on Saturday, January 25.
Guardiola has always claimed that simple solution for City's fragility it was always going to be a return to fitness for its fleet of injured players. Dias has shared the treatment room with fellow first-choice centre-back John Stones and reigning Ballon d'Or holder Rodri.
As well as relying solely on the club's medical department, City have turned to the transfer market in an attempt to strengthen their back line.
Abdukodir Khusanov is ready to arrive from Lens and there is also a deal it is agreed for the defender of Palmeiras, Vitor Reis. The young centre-backs have a combined age of 39 and are likely to command a combined £70m between them.