Manchester City defender Nathan Ake has been back in training, and could potentially play against Brentford today.
The Mirror have reported the Dutchman is closing in on a return to action for City.
Ake, 28, has missed the last three Premier League games for City with a hamstring injury.
He also missed a few games in April – against Arsenal, Leeds United and Sheffield United in the FA Cup – with another issue.
But £41 million star Ake is now in contention to return in today’s game against Brentford.
City are looking to finish the Premier League season with a bang, having already secured the title.
Pep Guardiola will want to win today’s game and see his side put in a great performance. That would be the ideal preparation for the two upcoming major finals
Next Saturday, it’s Manchester United in the FA Cup at Wembley.
Then, it’s onto Inter in the Champions League final in Istanbul.
Brentford will be without Ivan Toney today, with the striker having been hit with an eight-month ban after breaking Football Association betting rules.
He has been diagnosed as a gambling addict and hopefully will now be getting the help he needs.
He’ll be a big miss for the Bees, having been a regular scorer for them since he arrived in 2020.
Nathan Ake return from injury would be brilliant for Manchester City just before two finals
It will be fascinating to see how Guardiola sets up today if Ake is indeed fit to play.
The Spaniard may be wanting to play his best team, in order to make sure there is rhythm and momentum ahead of the the two finals.
So with that in mind, it’s possible Ake may not start today.
Manuel Akanji has been brilliant playing on that left side in his absence.
But we shall see, because Ake has been absolutely amazing this season. And Guardiola might want to give him a chance to build sharpness. Indeed, Micah Richards recently said that Ake had been ‘immense’.
He would absolutely deserve to start those cup finals given the season he’s had.
