Man City stars miss training as landmark sponsorship deal agreed

Three City stars miss training

Pep Guardiola could be without three key players for Manchester City's Premier League trip to West Ham on Saturday.

Guardiola is back in Manchester after missing three weeks having undergone back surgery, with his international players returning on Wednesday and Thursday ahead of City's away clash at the London Stadium.

However, while Guardiola was back from his own injury, there were three key figures missing on Thursday as Mateo Kovacic joined John Stones and Jack Grealish on the injury list.

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Stones has been out since the start of the season, with the international break earmarked for his return. Before the Fulham game two weeks ago, assistant manager Juanma Lillo had said Stones was 'more or less' there in terms of his fitness.

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City agree landmark sponsorship deal

City have agreed a new deal with Joie that will see the academy stadium carry the name of the women's team sponsor.

British baby gear company Joie came on board with the club in March, and have now signed one of the biggest sponsorship deals in the Women's Super League that will see Gareth Taylor's side (as well as the men's Under-21s) play their football at the Joie Stadium. Already the only team in the WSL to play at their own stadium, City are now also the first club to agree a commercial deal for the stadium name.

Ahead of their season starting in October, the City Women squad were in attendance at the training ground on Thursday morning along with senior club and Joie executives to mark the milestone as they cut a giant orange bow wrapped around the stadium. After playing their opening match away at West Ham, their first WSL match at the Joie Stadium