Injured Rodri included in Champions League squad

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Injured midfielder Rodri has been included in Manchester City’s updated Champions League squad.

The influential Spain international has not featured for City since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September and was expected to be unlikely to play again this season.

Pep Guardiola’s men have struggled in the 28-year-old’s absence, slipping to fifth in the Premier League table and only securing progression to the Champions League knockout round play-off in their final game of the league phase.

But the champions could potentially be handed a huge boost with the return of the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner before the end of the campaign after he was named in their European squad for the rest of the season.

City face Real Madrid in the first of their two-legged play-off game next week and while it seems unlikely the midfielder will feature in that tie, he could well be available if they reach the latter stages.

January signings Abdukodir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez have also been included, though there is no place for fellow new arrival Victor Reis with City only permitted to make three changes.

Kyle Walker is one of the names removed from their squad following his loan move to AC Milan, with Josh Wilson-Esbrand also making way after he made a temporary switch to Stoke.

Man City host Real at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, February 11 before heading to the Bernabeu on Wednesday, February 19.

Manchester City Champions League squad

List A

Goalkeepers

Ederson, Stefan Ortega Moreno, Scott Carson

Defenders

Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Abdukodir Khusanov, Josko Gvardiol

Midfielders

Nico, Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo, Rodri, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, James McAtee, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, Savinho

Forwards

Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush

List B (players born on, or after, 1 January 2003)

Oscar Bobb, Max Alleyne, Rico Lewis,  Nico O’Reilly




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