Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 7y

Man City's Gabriel Jesus battling to return for Arsenal, Man United games

MANCHESTER -- Gabriel Jesus is in a race to be fit for Manchester City's pivotal week of the season.

City face Arsenal in the FA Cup semifinal on April 23 followed by the Manchester derby against United four days later, but Pep Guardiola has said those games may come too soon for the Gabriel.

The Brazil international returned to training earlier this week as he continues his recovery from a fractured metatarsal bone in his right foot, which he suffered in the 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Feb. 13.

Guardiola said City's medical staff had originally expected the striker to return in the first week in May -- after the games against Arsenal and United.

"When is the semifinal? Two weeks? I think he's short," Guardiola told a news conference. "We thought the semifinal of the Champions League, but unfortunately it's gone.

"Hopefully the [FA Cup] final if we arrive there. I don't know. He's getting better. The last two sunny days he was on the pitch. Normally when you see the weather in Manchester, you stay off the pitch!"

Gabriel's injury saw Sergio Aguero recalled to the team after being named on the bench for three successive games following the 20-year-old's arrival in January.

Aguero has responded in style -- scoring 10 goals in 10 games including the second in the 3-1 victory over Hull City on Saturday.

Guardiola praised the Argentina international's impact and says he is contributing more to the team than just his goals.

"He's more involved in the game, not just in the box scoring goals. He's involved in the whole process," the City boss said.

"When I see the second goal [against Hull], to have everybody involved is for that -- not a striker to be there to arrive and score a goal. No, he's involved in the whole process. He can get out from the central defenders, and pull out from his position, and I like to see that."

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