Injury blow: Guardiola confirms Man City setback before Juventus clash

Pep Guardiola has provided an injury update ahead of Manchester City's Club World Cup clash with Juventus, confirming a setback for Claudio Echeverri. 

The young Argentine forward, who scored a superb free-kick in the 6-0 win over Al Ain, has sustained an ankle injury and will be sidelined for at least two weeks, making him unlikely to feature again in the tournament. 

Guardiola expressed regret over Echeverri's misfortune, stating his expectation of a two or three-week absence.

“No. He has some problems with his ankle,” stated Guardiola.

“It will be two or three weeks out unfortunately, I feel so sorry for him, for all of us.

“We’re going to play new players in the next game too, yeah. And in the second half too, I make the selection tomorrow, the line-up, thinking of the second half.

The Man City manager also addressed the fitness of Rodri, who has been recovering from an ACL injury sustained last season against Arsenal.

While Rodri is available to play, Guardiola indicated that the Ballon d'Or winner is unlikely to start the upcoming match. 

"He (Rodri) has been making a step forward in the last three or four days,” Guardiola confirmed. “He didn’t have some problems and niggles, you sometimes have. We’re happy we could add minutes to him.

“We have to be ready to suffer and Rodri, yeah he can play, of course not for 90 minutes but the last 30 or 35 minutes.”

The Premier League heavyweights and Juventus have six points from six heading into Thursday’s showdown, with the tussle expected to decide who ends atop Group G.