Pep Guardiola names three replacements for Rodri - including Man City wildcard

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has a major selection headache after Rodri’s long-term injury blow was confirmed but he has revealed who could play in the midfielder’s place against Newcastle

Pep Guardiola has stressed that he is blessed with options to help him with Rodri’s injury bombshell.

The Spanish midfielder has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign after picking up a serious knee injury against Arsenal. There were initial fears for Manchester City given how key Rodri has been since his move from Atletico Madrid.

But Guardiola has played down such talk and suggested that he has plenty of players capable of stepping in for the Spaniard. That includes a surprise role for defender John Stones in the heart of City’s midfield.

"Mateo Kovacic and I have a few more,” speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of this weekend’s trip to Newcastle, Guardiola said. "Ilkay Gündogan can play in that position, John Stones have too. We have alternatives."

Should Stones be deployed in midfield, it would not be unfamiliar to the defender. He has regularly been tasked with a more advanced role by Guardiola in the past.

Opening up on the role, he said: “It goes back to learning. Playing in there you appreciate other people’s roles and see their positions from a different perspective.

“You realise when sometimes I might give a pass into a midfielder but being on the receiving end of that, you know that that’s the wrong pass or the wrong position to give it. You appreciate someone else’s role in the team.”

One man who won’t be an option for City for the coming season is Kalvin Phillips. A potential recall from his loan spell at newly-promoted Ipswich was suggested as an option.

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But that will not be possible after the Tractor Boys confirmed that there was no recall clause written into the deal. In the meantime, Guardiola has suggested that Rodri may not return to his best for at least a couple of seasons.

He added: "We don’t want it but in football it happens. It’s pity because it’s a long injury - eight, nine months - but after it’s not like in one month you’re going to be ready. After that come the muscular injuries so you have to be careful.

"When you have an ACL injury for nine months the year after you have muscular problems for sure. So that’s why it’s longer [than nine months]. I think Rodri will be at his best not just after nine months but it is what it is. We have magnificent players and will find a solution and see what happens."

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