Pep Guardiola is not expecting Sergio Aguero to be back in contention for a return to the Manchester City team “for weeks” despite testing negative for coronavirus.
Aguero has returned to the training ground after a spell in isolation following his positive test for COVID-19 and is yet to rejoin first-team training.
The striker has struggled with injury and illness and Guardiola said the 32-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is still a long way off being match fit.
“He is still not training on the field,” Guardiola told a news conference on Tuesday.
“He started to move a little yesterday [Monday]. He will need a few weeks to come back. But he is negative, this is the most important thing. He is healthy again and now he will come again. As the top scorer he is important for us, to have him back. He needs time, he suffered COVID and needs a few weeks to feel ready.”
City are looking to extend their winning run to 13 games when they travel to face Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday.
Four days later Guardiola takes his team to Liverpool to kick off a run of three tricky league fixtures which also includes games against Tottenham and Arsenal, but the City boss insists his only focus is Burnley, who have found form with three wins from their last four games in all competitions.
“I don’t think for one second how many games we have to win, it’s just Burnley,” Guardiola said.
“If we win then celebrate, The good teams when they are in the shower are thinking about the next one. These are the good teams. Now more than ever be calm and think about the next one.
“Always I have a feeling I could lose a game. When you ask me what drives you, mainly it is this kind of situation. It is insecurity and a bit scary that I can lose a game.”
