John Stones is back in Manchester City training – and could have to be thrown straight into the first team.

The England defender, having picked up an injury at Newport in the FA Cup, returned at Bournemouth only to be forced off in the second half with a problem that caused him to miss the Premier League win over Watford.

Stones played a full part in the open part of the training session on Monday afternoon, but Vincent Kompany did not take part. With Nicolas Otamendi suspended for the game after his red card in the first leg, it means Stones and Aymeric Laporte could have to face Schalke.

Fernandinho, who has played at centre-back this year, is also injured. Young defender Eric Garcia could make the bench after impressing the manager with his performances in the Carabao Cup.

Benjamin Mendy and Kevin De Bruyne were also absent from the session, although Fabian Delph trained.

Guardiola has no such problems in attack. Riyad Mahrez and Leroy Sane are both itching to play but will have to produce something special to unseat Raheem Sterling, who scored a hat-trick in the win over Watford.

“I’d be the happiest man in the world. But I think it’s good for myself to feel he can do better and I felt that the first half was not the best performance Raheem has done this season, and that’s why I told him, that’s why we worked on that.”

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