Mateo Kovacic provides major Manchester City fitness boost as Arsenal hunt intensifies

Manchester City have been boosted by the return of Mateo Kovacic to full first-team training this week, club photos have confirmed.

The Croatian midfielder’s presence back among his teammates comes at a pivotal stage of the campaign, with Pep Guardiola’s side locked in a fierce Premier League battle and chasing down leaders Arsenal.

After months without one of their most experienced midfield operators, Manchester City appear to be edging closer to welcoming back a player whose composure and ball progression have often proved vital in the eyes of Guardiola in particular.

Persistent discomfort around Kovacic’s heel and Achilles first surfaced toward the end of last term, eventually ruling him out of the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace. And what was initially hoped to be a short period of rest instead developed into a long-term problem, culminating in surgery early in the summer and an extended rehabilitation programme.

A brief comeback earlier in the ongoing campaign ended abruptly when discomfort returned, with medical assessments later revealing calcification around the ankle and Achilles area, with a further corrective procedure late last year extending his spell out.

Now, as confirmed by fresh training ground photos released by Manchester City on Tuesday, Mateo Kovacic has returned to full first-team training alongside his teammates after another lengthy spell on the sidelines recovering from injury and subsequent surgery.

In total, Mateo Kovacic has missed around 30 matches across all competitions for Manchester City, including key fixtures in the UEFA Champions League and crucial league encounters.

Pep Guardiola has consistently praised the midfielder’s resilience behind the scenes, describing him as mentally robust and fully committed to regaining peak condition. Club staff have taken a cautious approach throughout, determined to avoid any repeat setbacks and to ensure the Croatian is fully fit before being reintegrated into competitive action.

While he is not expected to feature immediately, the sight of Mateo Kovacic back in full training represents a significant lift for Pep Guardiola and his squad.

And with decisive weeks looming in the title race and European knockout ties on the horizon, Manchester City’s midfield options are strengthening at precisely the right time, and Kovacic’s experience could yet prove decisive as the hunt for silverware intensifies.