Pep Guardiola will not rush star defender Ruben Dias back into first team action, for fear of losing him for the remainder of Manchester City's campaign.
The 24-year-old defender will sit out Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final at Southampton, after sustaining a hamstring injury against Peterborough in the last round on March 1.
City have drawn with Crystal Palace and Sporting Lisbon in his absence as Liverpool have closed to within a point at the top of the Premier League.
But Guardiola has been warned not to hurry him back into the first team, after the upcoming international break, for fear that a recurrence will rule him out of the whole season.