Manu Akanji hands Man City major injury boost after missing Tottenham win

Manu Akanji expects to be fit and available for Manchester City's Premier League trip to Bournemouth after missing the Tottenham defeat in the Carabao Cup with injury.

Akanji was named in the City starting line up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but was a late omission from the side who began the game - Ruben Dias taking his place from the start. The issue was initially reported by Sky Sports as a calf problem, before Pep Guardiola clarified that he had 'felt something muscular in the meniscus' in Tuesday's training session.

Although he was passed fit to start, Akanji then felt the same issue in the warm up and the decision was taken for him not to play. Guardiola added that the Swiss international had volunteered to start but the decision was taken out of his hands.

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Now, Sky report that Akanji has told them he is 'fine' and expects to train on Friday before being available to face Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday. The issue is reported as 'tightness in his groin'.

Akanji's return would ease the injury crisis at the Etihad, with Guardiola leaving Spurs declaring he had only 13 fit players. Six remain out until at least the international break, with Savinho undergoing tests on Thursday to determine the extent of the ankle issue that saw him stretchered off at Spurs.

Some reports in Brazil and Spain have suggested the issue is not as bad as first feared, although Guardiola will give a more accurate update on Friday.

Josko Gvardiol received treatment after the Spurs game and is a doubt, while Ruben Dias is 'struggling' according to his manager. Rodri and Oscar Bobb remain longer-term absentees, while Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku won't return before the international break.

City face three more long away trips after the Tottenham defeat - taking on Bournemouth, Sporting and Brighton in the coming week.