Manchester City v Huddersfield Town: Vincent Kompany not ready to return and face Terriers

Manchester City's Vincent Kompany (Picture: Martin Rickett/PA Wire).

The City captain, who has endured a difficult campaign on the fitness front, has been out since suffering a leg injury on the eve of the first meeting against the Terriers on February 18.

Manager Pep Guardiola, when asked at his pre-match press conference if 30-year-old Kompany would be fit, said: “He is much better, but not ready.”

Asked when Kompany might return, Guardiola said “soon” and that he “definitely” could play a full part in the remainder of the season.

Guardiola also said he was still to decide who would play in goal.

Willy Caballero now seems to have taken over as first choice due to the failure of Claudio Bravo to make an impact since controversially displacing England No 1 Joe Hart earlier in the season. Caballero has played four of the last five games, with Bravo playing in the original tie at Huddersfield.

Guardiola said: “I have to think about it – not just with our goalkeepers – for the line-up.

“We were one week out so it is not about how tired they are, more a final against one team who impressed a lot when we played there.

“I have to think about it after the training session. I am not thinking about who is the first one, who is the second one. We are going to decide game by game.”

City have no other new injuries, but striker Gabriel Jesus (foot) and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan (knee) are out long term.

Guardiola said he was pleased with how his first meeting with club owner Sheikh Mansour went, but is well aware he needs to deliver success.

City took advantage of a free weekend to travel to Abu Dhabi for a warm-weather training camp last week and spent time with the ambitious club’s hierarchy during the trip.

It was the first time Guardiola had met with the sheikh – whose largesse has transformed City in the past nine years – since the Spaniard’s much-heralded arrival at the Etihad Stadium last summer.

Guardiola said: “I was really impressed that he knew absolutely everything about us. It was nice to meet him and spend a few hours together.”