Pep Guardiola insists captain Vincent Kompany will be given every opportunity to prove his long-term value to him at Manchester City.
Kompany has had limited time to impress the new City manager after missing 11 of the opening 14 games of the season due to injury.
He has also been substituted during the last two matches as he listens to medical advice to manage his comeback from his latest lay-off - the 34th of his City career - carefully.
Aside from fitness issues there have also been questions over whether 30-year-old Kompany can adapt to the ball-playing expectations Guardiola has for his centre-backs.