Jesus will return soon, says Guardiola

Gabriel Jesus has handed Manchester City a fitness boost after Pep Guardiola revealed he could return within three weeks.

The striker has been in Barcelona with Dr. Ramon Cugat and looks set to be back sooner than expected from a medial collateral ligament injury. 

Jesus, who sustained the problem at Crystal Palace, left the Selhurst Park pitch in tears but has set early next month as a target for coming back.

Guardiola suggested the Champions League last-16 first leg with Basle on February 13 as a possible date but also claimed he may be back in training inside a fortnight.

“Yesterday (Thursday) he was in Barcelona with Dr. Cugat and at the end he was quite good,’ Guardiola said. “Two or three weeks, the Champions League game against Basle, he could be fit and ready.’

Sergio Aguero is Guardiola’s only available striker ahead of tomorrow’s meeting with Liverpool at Anfield. 

Guardiola would not be drawn on interest in Sanchez, who has told Arsenal he intends to leave this month, and warned his stars not to be distracted by the pursuit.

“You know my answer: I’m focused on Liverpool,’ he added. “We need to choose which world to be focused on.

“I wouldn’t like my players to listen to a manager talking about another thing.

The important thing is the 90 minutes and that’s what I want to speak about.

“They have two choices: follow what you said or follow me. Hopefully I’m going to try to convince them about what’s happening on the pitch.