Guardiola declares key Manchester City man fit for Sunday’s derby

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has declared David Silva fit to play in Sunday’s Manchester derby.

Silva missed City’s first defeat of the season in midweek after picking up a knock last weekend and there were doubts whether he would recover in time for the trip to Old Trafford on Sunday.

The Spain international has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season and his absence would have been a huge blow to City, but Guardiola has revealed he will start against United.

“He’s going to play,” The Daily Mail quote Guardiola as saying on Friday. “He was a doubt to play, that’s why I said what I said.”

The 31-year-old celebrated a new contract extension with the winner against West Ham last weekend and Guardiola will hope for more of the same as City look to go 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League this weekend.

No player has registered more assists in Europe’s top five leagues this season than Silva (8).