MANCHESTER, England : Manchester City winger Savinho could be back for Saturday's Premier League game at Bournemouth in a piece of good news for manager Pep Guardiola who is struggling with a slew of injuries that could threaten the champions' title challenge.Guardiola had said his team was "in trouble" after Savinho was taken off with an apparent ankle injury during their 2-1 League Cup loss at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.That added to a growing list which includes captain Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish that Guardiola said had left him with only 13 players to pick from.Brazilian Savinho picked up a "strong knock" but suffered "no fracture," Guardiola told reporters on Friday."Tomorrow you will see (who is available), I have many doubts, half and half," he said."It happens in many clubs and we're not the only club in the world to be going through it.
There are a lot (of injuries) in certain departments and positions but it is what it is."I've said to the players 'don't feel sorry for ourselves, our challenge is this' and we will play with 11 players tomorrow.
I will talk to players to see how they feel and the doctors. It is just day by day."City hold a one-point lead over Liverpool atop the Premier League after nine games, while Bournemouth are 11th.
Guardiola's team are also third in the Champions League standings.Manuel Akanji pulled up in Wednesday's warm-up with a calf injury while fellow defender Ruben Dias went off injured at halftime.Guardiola reiterated what numerous players and managers have said across different leagues this season about the congested fixture schedule contributing to injuries."We know it (is too many games) but it is the reality," he said. "We try to take care