Nico Gonzalez came off injured in his Manchester City debut at Leyton Orient in the FA Cup on Saturday, but he has been back in training ahead of their massive Champions League game against Real Madrid.
The former Porto star, 23 was a big money buy on Deadline Day and had barely played quarter-hour at Leyton Orient in City’s FA Cup fourth round tie when O’s winger Sonny Perkins stepped in front of the Spaniard. It looked to be a foul, but the pain came a split-second later — just before Jamie Donley took the loose ball and pummeled the cross bar from nearly 50 yards, forcing an own goal from Man City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.
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But the good news is that Gonzalez was seen in training on Monday ahead of City’s game against Real Madrid. And boy does Guardiola need the central midfielder to be fit.
Nico Gonzalez injury update
Pep Guardiola hasn’t issue a detailed update on Gonzalez other than to acknowledge the rough nature of the incident.
“I think Nico got immediately what is the Premier League,” Guardiola said. “I know without VAR it’s more difficult because they are not used to it and I know it’s a League One side, but there were one or two [missed] actions. There’s a penalty [that wasn’t given]. I think Nico now understands perfectly what [English football] is. I don’t know how hard [the knock] is, but he could not continue.”
City’s midfield has looked so weak and vulnerable all season and they were hoping Gonzalez would provide some much-needed steel and defensive cover against Real Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout round tie on Tuesday.
If Nico Gonzalez is fit it will provide City with a big boost.
