City's Foden, Kovacic not expected to play against Juventus, says Guardiola

TURIN, Italy : Manchester City's Phil Foden and Mateo Kovacic returned to training on Tuesday, but manager Pep Guardiola said if the two feature at Juventus on Wednesday, it will be for only a few minutes, as City's injury troubles show little sign of abating.

City take on the Italian side in the Champions League and, sitting 17th in the table before this week's slate of games kicked off, Guardiola's struggling team have three games left to clinch a top-eight spot that would earn a last-16 place and avoid a playoff.

Foden is back training after missing two games with bronchitis while Kovacic has been absent since the last international break due to injury.

"I don't think so," Guardiola said about their potential return on Wednesday. "Maybe a few minutes for Kova, but I don't think so. But it's nice to have them back here to the team, to the training sessions, and, of course, travel with us."

Neither Nathan Ake nor Manuel Akanji are expected back from injury any time soon.

"Nathan will be longer than Manu but I don't know (how long)," Guardiola said of the central defensive duo. "It's the same (challenge with injuries) like we had in the last month, nothing changes."

City are mired in a run of poor performances, with just one victory in their last nine games across all competitions - the worst stretch of results in Guardiola's mostly glittering managerial career.

The Catalan said the key to a return to top form is keeping things simple.

"What will save us is the way we play," Guardiola said. "We have to play so simple.

"And now we are a moment that we attack so quick, and we do a lot of things not in the right tempo that we lose the ball. We have to be so simple and basic to what we are as a team, and that confidence going back