Pep Guardiola hopes to see Manuel Akanji fit and available for Sunday’s Premier League clash at Chelsea – but he thinks John Stones could be out for a while.

Akanji pulled up in the warm-up for tonight’s game with Young Boys and had to be replaced by Kyle Walker in the starting XI.

However, Guardiola is keeping his fingers crossed it’s ‘not a big problem.’

The early prognosis on Stones was less positive, however, with the versatile defender substituted at half-time.

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Guardiola described that problem as ‘muscular’ and says it’s ‘bad news’ for the player and the team although he wouldn’t be drawn on timeframes.

“It’s muscular, he’s injured and will be a while out,” the boss said of City and England star Stones.

“It’s a pity for him because he’s an incredible professional.

“He tried to do it. It’s a pity. It’s bad news for us. Bad news for tonight.”

On Akanji, he added: “It was a problem with the back. He was training.

“When this happened, he looked like 75 years old.

“He could not play. That’s why Kyle replaced him in that moment.

“Hopefully not a big issue and he will be ready for Sunday.”

Watch the manager’s post-match press conference in the video player above.