Manchester City double recall follows Bukayo Saka Arsenal return ahead of title clash

Manchester City will have both Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva back early ahead of the pivotal title clash with Arsenal. Portugal have seen the City pair and six other players return to their respective clubs and will play no part in their second friendly against Slovenia.

The news follows Arsenal having Bukayo Saka return to the club following a minor muscle injury, football.london understands. Saka becomes the second player to have returned after Gabriel Magalhaes was also brought back as a precaution.

Gabriel Martinelli didn’t travel and was replaced by Galeno in the Brazil squad following his cut against Sheffield United which caused him to miss matches against Brentford and Porto. Manchester City saw Kevin De Bruyne return also and not join up with the Belgian squad.

Both teams seemingly have some major question marks with their key members of the squad. Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu were excused call-ups by Ghana and Japan respectively but played a part in a behind-closed-doors friendly with QPR on Thursday afternoon.

Both Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola have a number of their senior players still with them over this final international break of the season with some recovering from injury. Both Jack Grealish and Gabriel Jesus were not called up by their respective nations with Jurrien Timber also still working his way back from a serious knee injury and is expected to make his return very soon.

Arsenal take on Man City on March 31 at the Etihad Stadium. football.london will be providing full match coverage from four hours before kick-off from the northwest.

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