Pep Guardiola has revealed Kevin De Bruyne could return to the Manchester City side for the Premier League leaders' match against Leeds on Saturday.
De Bruyne was sidelined for City's wins against Fulham and West Ham after suffering an unspecified injury in their victory over Arsenal on April 26.
The Belgium midfielder was back in training on Thursday and City manager Guardiola suggested it would not be a risk to put him straight back into action at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.
"He trained yesterday, trained good. Today we train and we decide after training," Guardiola told reporters on Friday.
"Losing or missing just one week or 10 days in this stage of the season is not a problem. The same happened with Nathan (Ake). If he's fit, he can play."
City, chasing a fifth title in six seasons, can temporarily move four points clear of second-placed Arsenal if they beat Leeds.
The Gunners face a tricky trip to third-placed Newcastle on Sunday in what could be a defining weekend for the title race.
Treble-hunting City also have Tuesday's first leg of the Champions League semi-final at Real Madrid looming.
But Guardiola claimed that game would not come into his thinking when deciding how to manage De Bruyne's return.
"There's a lot of games and a lot of tension," Guardiola said. "I see the team really tired after the demands from West Ham and Fulham. I have to see how the players recover, just three days from the previous game.
"I will be focussed on how they are physically and mentally for this game. After, Madrid. The Premier League is so nice, it's important to go four points in front of Arsenal, really important."
Man City v West Ham player ratings
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Man City: Stefan Ortega 7: German keeper made his Premier League debut with Ederson rested, and called into action to block Bowen cross-shot from tight angle just before half-hour mark. Saved from Paqueta late in game where he was spectator for most of it. Reuters -
Kyle Walker 7: Solid night’s work from right-back who did not put foot wrong defensively and pushed forward to support City’s attacks when he could. EPA -
Ruben Dias 7: Lucky not to be booked in opening 15 minutes for wiping out Antonio but enjoyed quiet night at office with West Ham not exactly throwing players forward in attack. Getty -
Nathan Ake 8: Back in team after injury and largely untroubled defensively with West Ham’s attacking efforts limited to say the least. Headed home first Premier League goal in a year to open scoring. Getty -
John Stones 8: In superb form for City at moment. A cool and calm presence throughout. Headed decent chance wide of target in 35th minute. Scored two goals last month but skewed one effort badly wide in second half much to everyone’s amusement. Getty -
Rodri 7: Incredibly unlucky not to open scoring when his low shot hit the post then rolled across face of goal somehow not finding the back of the net in the first half. EPA -
Riyad Mahrez 7: Had first-time shot well saved by Fabianski in 10th minute. Perfect curling ball into box from free-kick to set-up Ake goal. Getty -
Bernardo Silva 7: Quiet in first half and struggled to make an impact as West Ham defended deep and very well. None of his trademark defence-splitting runs or passes but still neat and tidy performance. AFP -
Jack Grealish 8: Picked out Mahrez with cutback for Algerian’s early chance. Struck outside of Fabianski’s near post with shot of his own. Pulled shot wide soon after Ake goal when teammates were better placed. Supplied through-ball for Haaland’s record-breaking finish. Reuters -
Julian Alvarez 6: One weak strike very early in game that failed to test the keeper was as close as he came to scoring until 68th minute when his curling effort was comfortably saved. EPA -
Erling Haaland 8: Headed difficult chance wide from tight angle in first half. Rolled pass to Rodri before midfielder hit post. Scored goal No 35 this season to break Premier League goalscoring record with dinked finish in 70th minute. Given guard of honour by teammates at end. Reuters -
SUBS: Phil Foden (On for Alcaraz 76’) N/A. Can claim third goal despite wicked deflection off Emerson and saw another shot saved. AFP -
Manuel Akanji (On for Ake 76) N/A. PA -
Kalvin Phillips (On for Rodri 90+1’) N/A. EPA -
WEST HAM RATINGS: Lukasz Fabianski 7: Good save from low Mahrez strike in opening 10 minutes. No chance with Ake goal, lobbed by Haaland for second, wrong-footed by deflection for third. Reuters -
Vladimir Coufal 6: All of City’s attack came down his right flank in first half and Grealish’s direct running caused Czech defender a few problems but he stuck to his task well until limping off injured after break. Getty -
Thilo Kehrer 7: One of three centre-halves as West Ham attempted to restrict Haaland’s space. Immaculate sliding challenge on the Norwegian in second half had City fans calling for penalty for but rightly ignored. Getty -
Angelo Ogbonna 6: In for the injured Kurt Zouma and was a man mountain in first half, and seemed to be on the end of every cross City put into the middle. Then blotted copybook by losing Ake for City’s opener. Played Haaland onside for second. Reuters -
Aaron Cresswell 7: Back in team and captain for night, made vital interception on Alvarez cross in 15th minute with Haaland poised in middle. Helped West Ham hold out for 50 minutes until Ake’s goal and a further 20 until Haaland inevitably scored. Getty -
Emerson 7: Italian left-back had surprisingly quiet opening half as all City’s pressure came down the opposite flank. Unlucky to deflect Foden shot into the net for third City goal and did well up against Mahrez. PA -
Flynn Downes 7: Did great job in opening 45 minutes pressurising City and screening in front of his defence. But was booked at start of second half for blatant foul on Grealish and resulting free-kick headed home by Ake. PA -
Lucas Paqueta 7: Brazilian produced disciplined performance in midfield alongside Downes. One tremendous moment of skill in second half to leave a City player for dead. Saw late strike on goal saved. Getty -
Pablo Fornals 6: One wild volley just before half-time went so high looked like it might sail out of the Etihad. Saw keeper off his line with 10 minutes to go but got attempt at long-range effort embarrassingly wrong. Finishing not great but workrate exemplary. Getty -
Jarrod Bowen 6: Caught Ake napping with one run at goal from a quick throw-in but his cross blocked at point-blank range by keeper. Little chance to test City’s defence as West Ham rarely threw numbers forward. AP -
Michail Antonio 6: Striker basically played in midfield for large spells with West Ham defending so deep. Certainly put in a shift without ever threatening the City goal. PA -
SUBS: Ben Johnson (On for Coufal 62’) 6: Slotted straight in at right-back without any probems. Reuters -
Danny Ings (On for Antonio 67’) 5: Little impact from striker but little service in his defence. EPA -
Said Benrahma (On for Bowen 79’) N/A. AP
City will come up against Sam Allardyce on Saturday as the 68-year-old takes charge of Leeds for the first time.
Former Everton and Newcastle manager Allardyce was hired by Leeds this week to try and save their Premier League status.
The Yorkshire club are one place above the relegation zone on goal difference.
"Always there is an impact of a new manager on the players for the first one or two games," Guardiola said.
"Every team is playing for important things. Of course for Leeds to stay here, the impact is always huge.
"I don't know how they play, we don't have any info, we will have to adapt quick after five, 10 minutes. We can imagine what he tries to do. It's a massive, important game for us."
