By JACK GAUGHAN

Published: 17:10, 16 October 2025 | Updated: 17:10, 16 October 2025

Manchester City returned to training without Rodri on Thursday as the central midfielder continues to struggle for consistent fitness.

Rodri featured for only 22 minutes of City’s slender 1-0 victory at Brentford before the international break and has played just two full games all season.

The Spain international was forced off with a hamstring problem similar to the one sustained during the 2024 European Championship final.

Rodri sat out the international fixtures and claimed that the issue wasn’t major – but he hasn’t linked back up with Pep Guardiola’s side before they face Everton at the weekend.

City have attempted to ease the 29-year-old in to action following last season’s ACL injury, with Guardiola recently intimating that his metronome has been pushing for minutes beyond what his body may be capable of producing.

Guardiola has also stressed that the best version of Rodri will not return until the World Cup in North America or even next season as he battles back from the serious knee injury.

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