Manchester City full-back Benjamin Mendy is still waiting to make his Premier League return as he continues to be hampered with knee problems.
The World Cup winner has seen his Etihad career hit by injury woe since joining meaning he’s made just 16 top-flight appearances.
Despite that, the £52million signing from Monaco has shown in glimpses just how good he is and Pep Guardiola will want him back as City strive to claim a host of silverware this season.
Mendy was forced into a stint on the sidelines after November’s 3-1 league win over rivals Manchester United after he suffered a knee injury.
City have had to call upon Fabian Delph, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Aymeric Laporte to fill in at left-back in recent weeks with Mendy out.
The 24-year-old enjoyed a cameo comeback at Burton recently but his return is being closely managed.
What games has he missed?
Mendy has now missed 20 games since taking his place on the sidelines.
Without the defender, City lost to Chelsea in early December and suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats over the Christmas period.
But they returned to form after the turn of the New Year, claiming eight wins on the bounce in all competitions before a shock top-flight loss at Newcastle.
City have won their last two league outings, beating Arsenal and Everton.
Is he now fit?
The Frenchman returned ahead of schedule to come on in the second half of the recent Carabao Cup semi-final win over Burton.
Mendy was set to be out until mid-February but played 30 minutes at the Pirelli Stadium as City claim a 10-0 aggregate victory.
Despite featuring at Burton, the full-back has had to miss City’s fixtures since.
He is expected to make their squad for Sunday’s visit of Chelsea but the club will wait for a late fitness test before making a decision.
City will want him back as they also have a Champions League last-16 tie away to Schalke and the Carabao Cup final clash with Chelsea coming up soon.
What is his record this season?
Mendy has played nine Premier League games so far this season and notched an impressive six assists.
Of the 12 appearances the defender has made this term, City have won ten times and drawn twice.
What has he said?
After making his return at Burton, Mendy said: “We want to win, win, win. All the players, and the manager, want to win all the trophies and make history.
“I am just so happy to be on the bench, and at the meeting at the hotel, a feeling I missed before. I feel good and my teammates helped me a lot to prepare for this game.
“To get the feeling for the ball, the pitch, the conditions, was all good for my head.”