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Pep Guardiola will not be speaking to the media ahead of Manchester City's trip to Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday, with his assistant Pep Lijnders standing in

Pep Lijnders will take over Manchester City media duties on Friday ahead of their Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur.

Pep Guardiola is unavailable, so his assistant Lijnders will address the press before the squad reconvene on Saturday to continue preparations for another significant Premier League challenge.

It marks the third City press conference that Guardiola has been absent from in the past two months. Kolo Toure addressed journalists last month prior to their Premier League encounter at Crystal Palace, while Lijnders conducted the session following the 10-1 victory over Exeter in the FA Cup Final - a fixture from which Guardiola was suspended after accumulating three yellow cards in domestic competitions.

Guardiola, who appeared at an Act X Palestine event in Barcelona on Thursday evening, is still anticipated to lead the side for their journey to Spurs but cannot attend the scheduled pre-match media briefing. Lijnders will deputise before resuming his customary role as City aim to maintain their pursuit in the Premier League title race.

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A 2-0 triumph over Wolves on Saturday represented City#s first victory in five league matches, and Arsenal's home loss to United means the deficit at the summit has been reduced to four points with 15 fixtures remaining.

The Gunners can extend that advantage once more at Leeds on Saturday, but City have drawn encouragement from Arsenal's failure to pull further clear this month.

"In my experience here in England, Liverpool have won two league titles and we have won six, so I've never have experienced Arsenal winning the league," said captain Bernardo Silva.

"But the truth is that at the moment they're in a better position than us. I've recently said that both teams would still drop points, but unfortunately we started the year in a negative form as we could've gained an emotional advantage and we didn't.

"And then they could've distanced themselves from us even further but they didn't, so they gave us a bit of hope. There's still a lot of games to be played and every season is different. Without a doubt we still have hope and ambition to fight for this Premier League."

Tottenham star Dejan Kulusevski has replied to a brutal injury comment as his absence stretches to nearly nine months

Dejan Kulusevski has sent a brilliant two-word response after sharing an update while he continues to recover from a severe knee injury. The 25-year-old is yet to play this season because of the issue with his rehabilitation proving to be complicated.

Thomas Frank has been forced to contend with several injury blows during his first six months in charge, though Kulusevski's problem occurred before he even arrived. The hope was that he would return from the injury in late 2026 but there is still no sign of him with Spurs supporters growing impatient.

That was evidenced by a reply to his latest Instagram post where a user commented, "I thought you died." Kulusevski then took the opportunity to reply, "still alive."

Ahead of the Champions League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt, Frank was asked for an update but stated that he did not have one. That response was likely because the Spurs boss had already issued a detailed update earlier in the month

He said at a press conference from early January: “We know it's a complicated injury. If there's one person who can accelerate that, it's Dejan. He's a top pro and has got a top mentality.

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"The most important thing is to remove the pain in the knee. He got an injection to help that 10 days ago. We know in three to four weeks if it's settled and when it's settled, hopefully, he’ll be on the grass and from there, we’ll see what’s happening.

"It was not going forward as quickly as we thought but it's an injury we haven’t seen that much in football history. It's a complicated injury, where it’s important to make sure there’s no pain in the knee. That’s why he got an injection and it hopefully will help. So in three to four weeks’ time, he’ll be on the grass pain-free."

Mohammed Kudus and James Maddison, two Tottenham stars that play in Kulusevski's favoured positions, are also unavailable through injury.

The latter is yet to feature this season after rupturing his ACL while Kudus, a summer signing from West Ham United, is expected to be out for another six weeks at least because of thigh problem.

In addition to that, Richarlison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pedro Porro, Lucas Bergvall and Ben Davies are also sidelined. One fitness positive for Frank has been the return of Dominic Solanke with the striker scoring in Spurs' last two Champions League games.

The six points picked up at the expense of Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt helped the Lilywhites finish fourth in the league stage and thus bypass the play-off round.

We asked our Tottenham reporters Alasdair Gold and Ryan Taylor to name the team they would select to face Manchester City

Tottenham must carry their European form into the Premier League on Sunday as they host Manchester City.

Spurs won 2-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday night to finish fourth in the big Champions League table and leap into the last 16. Thomas Frank's side finished above the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, reigning champions PSG and most of Europe's big names.

That continental form remains in complete contrast to Tottenham's Premier League struggles. They sit 14th in the table and face a tough run of fixture in a row which starts against Pep Guardiola's side, then takes in Manchester United, Newcastle and a north London derby against Arsenal.

We asked our Spurs reporters Alasdair Gold and Ryan Taylor what team they would select to face City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. Here are the starting line-ups they went for.

Alasdair Gold - Tottenham correspondent

It's going to be a luxury for Frank in going from just 11 available senior outfield players to suddenly having a few choices in most positions.

After going again with a 3-4-3 formation and praising it once more as a success, it seems the Spurs boss has found a formation that he believes gets more out of his players.

So that could be the way again as City come to town and Frank will be hoping that Micky van de Ven is fit enough to come in on the left side of the back three. If not Joao Palhinha could play in the trio again, Radu Dragusin might come in or the Dane could play Destiny Udogie again as a left-sided centre-back and hand a big debut to Souza.

In the midfield there are suddenly options galore with Conor Gallagher and Yves Bissouma fresh to come in. Archie Gray was excellent in midweek and that might give the 19-year-old a leg up over the competition, or Frank could go for more experience against Guardiola's men. Pape Matar Sarr also completed his first full game in a while and has been a pest to City in the past.

Mathys Tel is a fresh option in the attacking slots while Dominic Solanke is likely to come back into the starting line-up after his late cameo and goal in Germany despite Randal Kolo Muani's improved display.

Gold's XI: Vicario; Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Spence, Gallagher, Palhinha, Udogie; Odobert, Xavi; Solanke.

Ryan Taylor - Football reporter

It's a huge game on Sunday for Frank, who needs to prove he can deliver the same performances we've associated with Spurs in the Champions League this season, in the Premier League.

However commendable a top-eight group stage finish is, fans remain disgruntled and the Dane has a long way to go before he starts to turn the tide.

Vicario starts in goal but I would go with a back-four as it's likely Van de Ven would have to rush back to make City and Spurs cannot afford to lose him long-term. Danso has also excelled in defence for Tottenham so he should partner Romero with Spence and Udogie at full-back.

In midfield, Gallagher comes back in alongside Gray as Spurs will need to press City aggressively. Not only that but Palhinha's condition also needs to be managed following a tough shift in Germany.

In attack, Tel comes back in on the left, Xavi operates as the No.10 and Odobert starts on the right. Despite Kolo Muani's goal vs Frankfurt, Solanke starts for me and you swap them on 60 minutes.

Thomas Frank is open to welcoming a couple of new faces to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before the January transfer window slams shut

Tottenham Hotspur have been given a huge cash injection just days before the January transfer window deadline. The Lilywhites banked an eight-figure sum on Wednesday evening as they secured automatic qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Dominic Solanke fired Thomas Frank's side to victory against Eintracht Frankfurt at the Deutsche Bank Park, securing three crucial points in the race for a place in the top eight. Spurs managed to finish in fourth place, avoiding the knockout phase play-offs and adding millions to their purse.

Like every other club in the Champions League, UEFA granted the north Londoners £16.18m for participating. Tottenham raked in a further £10.31m in performance-related bonuses, having won five (£1.82m per victory) and drawn two (£607k per draw) of their eight games.

UEFA also offers £239,000 per final position in the table, so the Lilywhites pocketed a further £7.89m. On top of that, they reward clubs that finish in the top eight and advance directly to the last 16, so Spurs earned £9.56m for their efforts.

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Altogether, Frank has earned the club a respectable £43.94m in prize money. The Dane has already welcomed a couple of new faces to Hotspur Way this month, signing Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid and Souza from Santos, so the windfall comes as a huge boost.

Despite having already forked out nearly £50m, Frank has revealed that he's still looking to bolster his squad before next week's deadline. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday night, the Tottenham boss said: "We are 100 per cent in the market.

"I think that when let’s say results are not top and you get injuries, that’s where you can feel you are being pressured to take decisions that you maybe don’t want to take for the future.

"But we need to make good assessments, good analysis, where we are making good decisions that can help us get short-term success, optimise that, but also be very good for the long-term."

At the end of December, Frank promised that Tottenham will only sign 'fully committed' players. The 52-year-old said: "Key, in every aspect. Any player we sign needs to be fully committed on the project. No doubt about that. Very important.

"Character for me, as I've said many times, is the most important thing. They need to buy into it so we are aligned. It makes it easier for me to say, 'Hey remember the bit I said about this...', then it's a little bit easier to have consequences."

This season, the January transfer window will close at 7pm on Monday, February 2. So, if Frank still plans to improve his squad, the Tottenham sporting directors, Fabio Paratici, who's set to leave in the coming days, and Johan Lange, will need to pull their finger out...

Tottenham Hotspur have already had a productive January transfer window welcoming Conor Gallagher and Souza to the club, but the club may not be done bolstering their ranks just yet

Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed a fruitful transfer window this month, with potentially more arrivals to come ahead of Monday's deadline.

Spurs secured Conor Gallagher in a £34million deal with Atletico Madrid, before bolstering their backline with Santos star Souza for a further £13million. However, it now appears as though Thomas Frank is looking for additions in terms of firepower in the business end of the window, with a number of prolific attackers brought up in conversation.

With just a matter of days left in the current window, football.london breaks down all of the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip surrounding Tottenham Hotspur...

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Stiff competition for Saudi star

Intermediaries are said to have contacted several Premier League clubs to explore a potential return to the English top flight for Moussa Diaby. The Al-Ittihad winger has thrived in the Saudi Pro League this season, racking up two goals and five assists from 16 appearances thus far.

However, the 26-year-old - who plied his trade with Aston Villa for a year before his move to the Middle East in 2024 - has recently been linked with a return to English soil this month. It is said that Tottenham, Villa, Crystal Palace, West Ham and Sunderland were all contacted by representatives.

Meanwhile, Inter Milan has also been reported as a potential destination for Diaby this month, with claims earlier this month that a loan with a mandatory purchase option had been looked at. Any move for Diaby could be a complex matter, however.

As per TEAMtalk, a potential transfer may prove unworkable due to the tax implications pertaining to a mid-season return to the UK. Players can face a significant tax penalty for returning from Saudi Arabia within a two-year period of arrival.

A product of the Paris Saint-Germain youth academy with a successful stint at Bayer Leverkusen on his books, any potential suitors have a valid reason to be excited over the prospect of welcoming Diaby to their ranks this month.

Jean-Philippe Mateta latest

Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as potential suitor for Jean-Philippe Mateta this month, as the striker looks for the exit at Selhurst Park. The 28-year-old striker has been linked with a wealth of teams in the current window, including but not limited to Manchester United, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Everton, West Ham, Newcastle United and Juventus.

And with the Eagles agreeing a deal in principle with Wolves for Jorgen Strand Larsen this week, it could open the door for Mateta's exit. The Frenchman has scored eight goals from 23 outings this season, and is admired for his physical presence and aerial ability in particular.

With Spurs currently lacking a proven talisman up top, Mateta could be the perfect fit as they look to turn the tide in the Premier League and kick on with their Champions League run.

A deal may not come on the cheap, however, given that Crystal Palace are expected to demand in the region of £35million-£40million to part ways with the striker, who is under contract until next summer.

Raheem Sterling is a free agent after leaving Chelsea - and his representatives have held talks with several clubs over a potential move.

Raheem Sterling has previously confessed to harbouring dreams of representing Arsenal, which he eventually did, while it could, potentially, complicate any transfer discussions with Tottenham Hotspur. The winger became a free agent following his departure from Chelsea earlier this week.

It means he is now eligible to join a new club, even beyond the January transfer window. Recent reports suggest that his representatives have already engaged in discussions with as many as seven clubs regarding his next deal.

The Sun reports that Tottenham are among those clubs. Spurs might hold an advantage, due to their geographical location, with Sterling having previously expressed a preference to remain in London.

However, it's now being suggested that the 31 year old is prepared to consider opportunities further away in a bid to revitalise his career. Napoli are among the other clubs reportedly expressing interest.

Sterling began his career in QPR's youth system before heading to Liverpool as a youngster. He has subsequently represented Man City and Chelsea.

Last season, he spent the entirety on loan at Arsenal. Discussing the decision to bring in the England international, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta revealed how a telephone conversation with the player persuaded him and the club to pursue their interest.

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"The first call I had with him I knew in the first 10 seconds we had to bring him here because he really wanted it," Arteta said. "That was my only question mark; 'What stage is he at in his career'?

"After 10 seconds I knew already before the next questions that we needed him here.‌ His first words were; 'I was dreaming about this call'. That's it. That tells you he really wants it - and was already thinking about the possibility and he could see himself here, delivering and enjoying his profession.‌

"When that happened, the rest I knew about him, so that blew all the question marks away."

Sterling's 'dream' of representing Arsenal is unlikely to sit well with Tottenham's supporters. The loan arrangement with Spurs' north London rivals saw him feature 28 times across all competitions, netting once and registering five assists.

Two of those outings came in Premier League encounters against Spurs, with his Arsenal debut arriving as a late substitute in Arsenal's victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September 2024.

Cristian Romero has challenged his Tottenham Hotspur teammates to carry their mentality in the UEFA Champions League over to the Premier League

Cristian Romero has shown his true colours following Tottenham Hotspur's win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League. The 27-year-old defender led Thomas Frank's side to victory at the Deutsche Bank Park on Wednesday night, helping the Lilywhites secure automatic qualification to the last 16.

Romero played a pivotal role for Spurs during the 'league phase', starting all but two of the eight games. Only Arsenal conceded fewer goals, and no club recorded more clean sheets than Tottenham.

The Argentina international was just as impactful at the other end of the pitch, scoring one goal and providing three assists. Despite some disappointing results on the domestic stage, Romero led by example in the Champions League, helping the Lilywhites finish in fourth place.

The Spurs skipper was delighted with the result, but he quickly turned his attention to the Premier League after the game. In an interview with Chris Cowlin, Romero showed his true colours, urging his teammates to turn things around in the English top-flight.

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Tottenham are currently 14th in the Premier League, and will lock horns with Manchester City at home on Sunday afternoon. The Argentine said: "Yeah, it's a fantastic feeling.

"We needed this performance. We needed this amazing win away from home. The most important thing now is to recover well, and we will go again.

"Every time it's like this. In the Champions League, it's top at the moment, but in the Premier League, we need more. We need to stay together, and we'll be okay."

Romero continued: "I spoke with the players before the game, in the Champions League it's always like this. The most important thing is to play with this mentality.

"For me, the most important thing now is we go again in the Premier League. It's not good enough at the moment, and we will go again, stay all together. It's a difficult time, but it's like this now."

On Randal Kolo Muani, who fired Tottenham ahead against Eintracht Frankfurt shortly after the break, Romero said: "It's fantastic for him. We need confidence for the striker. I'm very happy for him."

Frank has recently been juggling a number of injuries to key players. On the setbacks that Tottenham have faced, Romero said: "It's a bad moment, a lot of injuries, but I'm very happy for the players today (and) also the young players.

"The most important thing, we stay all together. It is never easy. The life is like this. This is football. We need to stay strong, especially in this moment. It is a difficult moment in the Premier League.

"In the Champions League, it is like another league for us. It's like perfect, but yeah, now recover well. In four days, we have another big game, and we need to stay with this mentality."

And finally, on the three thousand Tottenham fans that travelled to Germany, Romero said: "Fantastic. Fantastic every time. It is the same. You know I love these fans.

"Every time (they're) with us. It is the most important thing for us, especially in this moment in the Premier League. It is like no good moment, but yeah, thank you for staying all with us. Amazing."

The Tottenham midfielder has been speaking about the Champions League last 16 qualification and his under-pressure manager

Joao Palhinha believes Tottenham must show "a new face" if they are to take the momentum of their Champions League run into the Premier League and relieve the pressure on Thomas Frank.

Spurs secured their spot in the last 16 of Europe's top tier competition with their 2-0 win in Frankfurt on Wednesday. That meant they finished fourth in the big Champions League table, above the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, last year's winners PSG, Juventus, Inter Milan and fellow Premier League sides Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle.

That also secured a huge cash windfall of roughly £43million and now Tottenham will take on one of Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray in the round of 16 in March.

Yet that European progress comes at the same time as Frank faces major pressure over his future at the club with Spurs 14th in the Premier League and out of both domestic cup competitions. On Sunday, the north London outfit welcome Manchester City to kick off a run of games against Pep Guardiola's side, Manchester United, Newcastle and their local rivals Arsenal.

Spurs beat City 2-0 under Frank at the Etihad Stadium back in August and one of the goalscorers that day, midfielder Palhinha, believes it's time for the club to show a new side.

"That's the Tottenham we all wish [for], to beat top teams," he said. "We need to take this victory and this important qualification to give a big jump in everything that has passed in the last couple of months and start a new face, hopefully."

The Portugal international believes the players must take responsibility for the stark contrast between Tottenham's continental and domestic form.

"It's a lot of things. Of course the injuries don’t help the team but the responsibility is mainly with the players, in my opinion, because we should do much better in some key moments," said the 30-year-old.

"We conceded some goals we shouldn’t concede in important games. Since Brentford, we lost some important points that for me would have put us in a different position in the table right now. But it’s football. The main thing is to try to, with this game and this qualification, make something different from right now.

“Don’t think don’t too much on the past but look more for the future and what we want to do. We have top players, top staff as well. We all want to change the momentum in the Premier League."

Palhinha, on loan from Bayern Munich, admits things have been tough on Frank and that life is not easy on managers.

"We are with all our hands together. The responsibility is not with the coach, although of course the coach will receive all the responsibility because of results. We know how it is in football," he said.

“Sometimes it’s not easy to be a coach, but the responsibility is also from the players and some things need to improve. The main thing is we recognise where we need to be better and as a top club, this pressure would come and we knew that."

When asked whether Spurs could go all the way and win the Champions League, the experienced midfielder was far too wily and laughed before saying: "It’s not about winning the Champions League. I think in life it needs to be with steps. I know what you want to hear from me!

"But the main thing is we did our qualification responsibly with a lot of respect and we deserve to complete this qualification. Now let’s see who we find in the next round. The focus right now will be on the Premier League and then after we will have a look again to the Champions League."

Palhinha was asked whether there is a psychological barrier for the Tottenham players in the Premier League after two seasons of toil in the competition.

"We had some games that we won, especially in the first weeks against City. We had some really good games, but I think we miss sometimes the details. If we have a look, some losses that we had I think were about the details," he said.

"The team always gives everything we have. It’s really important on that face, I know that for supporters it’s not easy to digest the position in the table. I know it’s frustrating for them but also for us. We need to keep the hands all together and try to change the momentum on Sunday against City."

So will Tottenham's ability on the break and requirement to raise themselves and focus for big games help in this coming quartet of tough fixtures?

"Let’s see. I think we will have this answer in the next few games!" said Palhinha. "Of course the motivation is always high when you play these kind of games.

“But we know the reality of where we are in the table and we definitely need to change this because it’s not the image from Tottenham, definitely. It’s not the position in the table that everyone wants to be. We will try to do everything we can to change it."

Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson sent a message on Instagram after the Reds' 6-0 Champions League win over Qarabag, as Tottenham transfer discussions have ended.

Andy Robertson declared Anfield his home following Liverpool's commanding 6-0 triumph over Qarabag that sealed their place in the Champions League knockout stages.

Robertson was handed a start ahead of Milos Kerkez with just five days remaining until Monday's winter transfer deadline, despite attracting attention from Tottenham Hotspur. The Reds and Spurs engaged in initial discussions regarding a potential deal, though those talks have since been abandoned.

Roma's unwillingness to permit Liverpool to recall Kostas Tsimikas as Robertson's replacement ultimately scuppered any prospect of the transfer materialising. With the club unlikely to find another replacement, it seems as though the Scottish international won't be making the move to N17 this winter.

One key factor has surrounded the injury issues that Liverpool face, with Arne Slot making a defiant statement in the wake of those Robertson links. He claimed he needed all of his players available, sending a potential message to the hierarchy over the future of the defender.

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Now, after Robertson returned to the starting lineup for Liverpool in midweek for the Champions League, the left-back may have dropped a hint on his own future. "Home," he wrote on Instagram during the early hours of Thursday morning in an Instagram post, accompanied by a red heart emoji.

One of the two images featured shows Robertson offering a thumbs-up with his left hand while placing his right hand over his heart following the final whistle. The second captures him clutching a ball under his arm as he strolls towards one of the corner flags.

"Top 8 secured," the caption concluded, finished with a tick emoji. Robertson also shared it on his Instagram story later that morning.

Reds boss Slot indicated before the fixture against Qarabag that he anticipates Robertson remaining at the club. The head coach stated: "Robbo is part of the team tomorrow evening.

"He has been part of this squad for so many years. I am happy to have him, and I am glad he is available because that is not normal for us right now. He will be part of the team, and nothing is happening on this side. It's hard to say anything definite in this world we are in, but I expect him to stay."

Robertson ultimately helped Liverpool earn a place in the top eight of the Champions League with their thrashing of Qarabag, giving them a passage straight to the round of 16. Fortunately, Tottenham did too, giving them a few free midweeks in the coming month.

The deal itself comes as a potential blow for Tottenham, however, who were looking to bring forward their summer business, where Robertson was expected to be a target as a free agent at the end of his contract at Liverpool. The 31-year-old brings experience, leadership and a winning mentality with him from his time with the Merseyside outfit.

The move in January could've helped to replace the influence of Ben Davies, who is now set for a long spell out of the team with injury. When it comes to Spurs' full-back options, there are a few who can fill the gap, with Destiny Udogie returning from several injury spells to take the position again, while new signing Souza is a backup alongside Djed Spence, who can switch from the left to the right.

But all of them lack that experience that would come from someone like Davies or Robertson, especially at a time when Tottenham need the senior players to uphold high standards. It's unclear whether Spurs will enter the market to reinforce the team with other options, having already signed Conor Gallagher and Souza this month.

If they are to do so, then only a few days remain to get those final deals over the line to help support Frank with turning the team's form around.

Ering Haaland is a big fan of one Tottenham transfer target

Omar Marmoush has emerged as a reported target for Tottenham Hotspur during the January transfer window. The Manchester City striker has been linked with a move to Spurs but the club only have a few days left to finalise a potential deal as deadline day looms.

The 26-year-old was signed by Pep Guardiola for £59million last January following a prolific spell at Eintracht Frankfurt, where he scored 37 goals in 67 games. Filling the void that Julian Alvarez had left in the City squad a few months earlier, Marmoush had an immediate impact upon his arrival.

The Egypt international ended last season with seven goals in 16 league games and appeared primed for a starring role this campaign. However, he had to wait until last weekend against Wolves for his first league goal. It was just Marmoush's third league start after overcoming a knee injury and also representing his country at the Africa Cup of Nations.

City’s recent signing of Antoine Semenyo has further fuelled speculation that Marmoush could leave, with Spurs among several clubs linked with a £26million move. Despite his slow start to the season, Marmoush has been lauded by the likes of Haaland and Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner during his career.

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Erling Haaland’s ‘special’ verdict

A few days after his move to City was completed, Marmoush started in a 3-1 win over Chelsea. Although he did not score, Erling Haaland was instantly impressed with his new teammate.

"I think especially in the first half you can see he has something special,” Haaland said after Marmoush’s debut. “There’s a reason City brought him because he has something special.

“He got straight into the team and It’s about getting to know him as soon as possible because there are so many important games coming. It’s about giving him confidence and he’s going to be a fantastic player for us.”

Haaland added: “He had an amazing first half of the season for Eintracht Frankfurt and hopefully, he’s going to have the same season with us now for the second half of the season.”

Loved by Oliver Glasner

Marmoush first crossed paths with Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner as a young striker at Wolfsburg. He made his debut in 2020, featuring 10 times under the manager, before being loaned out to St Pauli and Stuttgart.

While his game was still developing, Glasner was quickly convinced of the forward’s potential. Despite their short time working together at Wolfsburg, the pair remained in contact and Glasner spoke highly of Marmoush's character and footballing talent last year.

“He has all the abilities to become one of the top strikers in the world,” Glasner said ahead of facing his former player. “We could see from day one, when he trained with us, because he has the skills.

“What I also loved was, at that time, he was in Germany for two and a half years and he spoke German perfectly. This is quite unusual. You could see he's a great guy, he has all the skills.

“It's in the football career, sometimes it’s not a straight direction to the top. I think he was on loan at FC St Pauli, in VfB Stuttgart, performing for Wolfsburg and then the outstanding season for Frankfurt. Immediately he showed at Manchester City the kind of striker he is, so I'm really pleased for him, but not tomorrow!”