Aguero absent from Man City group travelling to Watford

Manchester City were always unlikely to risk Sergio Aguero for the trip to Watford and it was no surprise he wasn’t spotted among Pep Guardiola’s charges boarding the train on Tuesday.

Aguero and Ukrainian winger Aleks Zinchenko were not pictured in the group and Kevin de Bruyne has already been ruled out by manager Guardiola.

In the absence of the Argentina striker, Jesus will likely be afforded an opportunity to improve on a return on just one goal in eleven appearances this season.

Speaking of Aguero’s condition after the weekend’s game against Bournemouth Guardiola said: 

“After Lyon [in the Champions League] I didn’t know we were going to come back here and doctors say to me Sergio cannot play. If he plays, maybe four or five weeks out. In that situation in this month with a lot of games, he was not safe. That is normal.

“It is going to happen in the future in the next games. People will start to be tired and a lot of games. That’s why we have a deep squad and everybody must be involved.

“It is what it is. Adapt. With a deep squad you have some players in the second team, you’re going to play 11 and everybody has to do their best. That is what it is. I play nine games but many other contenders, our opponents, play nine games too.

“So it’s not because we play more games than the others. It’s the same. So why would we complain? Nothing. Play every day, try to be there and play the game.”

City head into the match sporting a slender two point lead over second placed Liverpool with both teams unbeaten after fourteen league games.