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City captain Kompany won't be an automatic starter for Guardiola

Pep Guardiola wants Vincent Kompany to provide competition for the likes of Nicolas Otamendi, John Stones and Aleksandar Kolarov.

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany will not be an automatic selection when he returns from injury, insists Pep Guardiola.

Kompany has been plagued by calf issues in recent seasons and tore a thigh muscle during the Champions League semi-final defeat to Real Madrid last May.

The Belgium international is closing in on a return to competitive action, but City boss Guardiola believes he will face stiff competition for a starting berth from Nicolas Otamendi, John Stones and Aleksandar Kolarov - despite the latter being more at home at left-back.