Manchester City defender Joško Gvardiol is progressing ahead of schedule in his recovery from injury and could return to action before the end of the season, according to the latest developments.
After suffering an injury during Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea in January, the Croatia international underwent surgery later in the month, leading to concerns over him potentially missing a significant portion of the run-in and maybe even the FIFA World Cup.
Gvardiol has been a crucial player for Pep Guardiola since his arrival from RB Leipzig in August 2023, having operated at centre-back and full-back in his first three seasons at the Etihad Stadium.
His composure while playing out from the back and tactical flexibility have been immensely important to City’s defence. When fit, Gvardiol’s forward passing and ball progression have been important facets of Guardiola’s build-up play.
Rico Lewis, Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol fitness updates from Pep Guardiola for Newcastle United and Real Madrid
When can Manchester City expect Josko Gvardiol to return to fitness?
Gvardiol has played 120 games for Manchester City, scoring 13 goals and assisting 10 times. Those numbers demonstrate his attacking capabilities and versatility, especially in systems where defenders are expected to advance into higher zones and participate in positional rotations.
His contractual situation also reflects his importance to the club in the long run. Gvardiol is under contract with City until 2028 and is still one of the most valuable defenders in European football. His market value, as per Transfermarkt, is estimated to be around €70 million at present.
Encouragingly for City, reports from Croatian outlet Sportske Novosti, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, suggest his rehabilitation is progressing faster than initially expected. The defender had been wearing a protective boot following surgery but has now returned to walking normally without assistance and is no longer experiencing persistent pain.
The report cites sources close to the player, who have indicated that he sometimes feels a little uncomfortable during training, but that his recovery is still going very well. The medical staff at Manchester City are described as ‘very pleased’ with how rapidly he is getting better.
What does this mean for Josko Gvardiol’s FIFA World Cup chances?
An exact date for Gvardiol’s return remains to be revealed but Manchester City’s medical staff think the defender could be available again in May. That timeline would let him feature before the end of the season, which could give Guardiola another option in defence.
Croatian manager Zlatko Dalić will also be keen on the update, having said to be counting on the Gvardiol to be fit before the FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Tomislav Vlahović, head of medical services for the Croatian Football Association, is also expecting Gvardiol to make it to the World Cup. However, reports in the Croatian press stress that caution remains the primary aim in the final stages of Gvardiol’s rehabilitation.
For Manchester City, the priority remains ensuring a full recovery instead of speeding up the timeline. Injuries of this nature often need to be carefully managed and require a cautious reintegration into full training to avoid any potential setbacks. If Gvardiol’s progress continues as expected, he could come back at a crucial juncture in the season for Guardiola and City.
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