---
title: "Manchester City: Guardiola confirms more doubts for Watford clash"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-guardiola-confirms-more-doubts-for-watford-clash/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Clubbe"
section: "Manchester City News"
published: "2022-04-22T16:40:19Z"
modified: "2022-04-22T16:40:19Z"
---

# Manchester City: Guardiola confirms more doubts for Watford clash

**Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has cast doubt over the availability of two more defensive options for the Premier League meeting with Watford.**

### The lowdown: Walker worry

The Sky Blues are currently in the midst of a gruelling fixture schedule and are likely to remain without Kyle Walker with an ankle injury after Ruben Dias also spent time on the [sidelines](https://www.manchesterworld.uk/sport/football/manchester-city/ruben-dias-and-nathan-ake-join-manchester-city-injury-list-ahead-of-clash-with-manchester-united-3592803) recently.

As just a solitary point separates Guardiola’s side and the chasing Liverpool, every remaining league game has been [billed](https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/guardiola-man-city-must-win-every-premier-league-game-to/blt20782d05d1076ae9) as a must-win encounter by the Spanish boss.

Walker appear to roll his ankle in the win at Atletico Madrid and has since been [spotted in a protective boot](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/18272828/kyle-walker-protective-boot-manchester-city/), raising plenty of doubts over his availability for the run-in.

However, it seems he’s not the only defensive issue for Pep to worry about…

### The latest: Defensive duo doubtful

Speaking during the [pre-match press conference](https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/manchester-city-watford-pep-guardiola-press-conference-63786216), as relayed by the [Manchester Evening News](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-guardiola-news-recap-23755350), Guardiola is unsure about the availability of John Stones and Nathan Ake.

When asked over fresh team news, he said: “A niggle \[Stones\]. Little problems, like Nathan today we make an assessment, tomorrow we decide.”

Regular England international Stones is believed to have felt [tightness](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/crg8ww8yl8wo) during the 3-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion in midweek whilst Ake had to be replaced at half time due to a twisted ankle.

### The verdict: No risks required

In truth, the potential defensive absentees shouldn’t cause too many headaches for City in a game the hosts should dominate at the Etihad.

Albeit Roy Hodgson’s side will arrive with their Premier League status hanging in the balance, Watford have only mustered [30 goals in 32 matches](https://www.premierleague.com/tables) this season and therefore Aymeric Laporte alongside a fit again Dias should be more than enough to cope with any threat posed by the visitors.

Allowing key players such as Stones, recently hailed as [‘phenomenal’](https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/man-city-v-man-united-pep-guardiola-preview-part-2-63782007) by Guardiola, time to recover ahead of crunch clashes still to come is vitally important as the Citizens still harbour ambitions of completing a historic double this season.

***In other news, a journalist has shared a major City transfer breakthrough. Read more [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-news/manchester-city-mike-keegan-shares-erling-haaland-breakthrough/).***