Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho is a doubt for Sunday's game at Southampton and could be short of full fitness for next weekend's crunch clash against Liverpool, Goal understands.
Fernandinho sat out City's final Champions League game, against Hoffenheim, earlier in December but returned three days later for the victory against Everton.
But he was deemed not fit enough to play against Crystal Palace on Saturday and was also absent at Leicester on Boxing Day, with City losing both games.
Sources close to the squad have told Goal that the Brazilian was feeling better ahead of the Leicester game, but he was not ready to join the travelling squad and a return at Southampton this coming Sunday is far from certain.