Pep Guardiola responds as the problem Jack Grealish had at Aston Villa sparks 'doctor' comment

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is hoping to have Jack Grealish back in the "next few weeks" but says he has not spoken to a doctor about his shin problem.

The England playmaker has been ruled out of action for the reigning Premier League champions due to the injury which ruled him out of 12 Aston Villa games last season.

The £100m signing has now been ruled out of City's clash against Tottenham tomorrow as a result as the Blues hope to take another step towards the league title.

But when Guardiola was asked about Grealish's issue ahead of the game against Spurs, he could not nail down a firm date for his return.

"I'm not a doctor," he said.

"The shin seems much less than he had last season but I don't know, I didn't talk to the doctor. We will see, but I think he will not be for tomorrow but hopefully the next weeks."

Grealish missed City's win over Norwich last weekend and in the pre-match build-up to the clash against the Canaries he admitted it was a little "bit" of what affected him at Villa.

There were claims the 26-year-old could figure against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday as City ran riot 5-0, but he did not play.

Grealish has made a slow start to life at the Etihad having scored three goals in 25 appearances in all competitions, but he will back himself to come back stronger from his latest injury blow.

The former Villa talisman has only registered one Premier League goal contribution since the end of October and has taken some time to find his feet in City's system.