Pep Guardiola says it’s ‘likely’ that Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips will recover from their injuries in time to be ready for the World Cup.
The Manchester City duo are in a race against time to make Gareth Southgate’s squad, with the England boss required to submit his squad by November 13.
Phillips who has only played 13 minutes of action this season, has been out since September with a shoulder injury, while Walker has not played since the Manchester derby last month due to a groin issue.
Ahead of Manchester City’s final Champions League group game against Sevilla on Wednesday, also said he had been impressed by Walker’s recovery from injury.
‘It’s likely, from the way they recover,’ Guardiola said. ‘I don’t know the intention with Kyle but the doctors know better than me.
‘Gareth (Southgate) has spoken to the players directly. From what I hear in the dressing room, it is likely they can be ready. You don’t play a World Cup every week. We’ve been impressed with Kyle’s recovery but he is late compared to Kalvin.’
Walker went off with an injury in the first-half of City’s 6-3 victory over Man United on October 2.
Should he make the team, it would be particularly impressive after he underwent groin surgery which left him a major doubt for the World Cup.
Guardiola said: ‘He’s doing partial training session with the team, not contact yet.
Walker isn’t the only right-back whose involvement in the World Cup is at doubt, with Chelsea sending Reece James to Dubai to continue his rehabilitation as he recovers from a knee injury.
The Spaniard added that Phillips is doing partial training sessions with the team, but won’t rush him back for the Premier League clash with Fulham this weekend.
He said: ‘We’ll see his evolution. I know how important is the World Cup but I don’t use a player I don’t think is ready. I feel the games will be tight.
‘At the end of the season, lots of things involved. I don’t think against Fulham, just for the quality of the opponent, even Brentford in the first half. Will be tight, so we evaluate the conditions.’
England kick-off their World Cup campaign on November 21 against Iran.