Laporte and Stones have not recovered in time from the injuries which kept them out of the midweek Champions League win over RB Leipzig, after which Ake announced his father had sadly passed away minutes after he scored the opening goal.
Pep Guardiola confirmed the injured duo are suffering with muscle issues they picked up whilst on international duty, which could potentially rule them both out of next week’s games against Wycombe Wanderers and Chelsea.
“[They are] injured. [It’s] muscular,” he said at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.
“John Stones didn’t play with us and then played 90 mins with national team and came back injured and Laporte came back with a little disturbance, some niggles.
“He wanted to play against Leicester, where he made an extraordinary game, but after that game his niggles were worse and we did not want to take a risk.
“Both are not able to play. I don’t know [if they will play] against Wycombe or Chelsea but hopefully they can be ready after. Right now, I don’t know.”
The absence of Laporte and Stones leaves City with only two fit senior centre-backs in Ruben Dias and Ake, who posted a touching tribute on social media following his father’s passing.
Guardiola thinks the Dutchman will be ready to face Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side on Saturday, but says he will be given all the support he needs as he expressed his sympathy to the defender and his family.
“Nathan has shown his personality,” he added.
“We are concerned and sad. Our condolences to his mother, his brother, his family and friends, and his fiancé.
“All we can say is we are there for him. We tried in the last hours to let them feel how close we are with him.
“I am pretty sure tomorrow he will be ready and fit to fight for us.”
