Manchester City's Sergio Aguero and fit-again Gabriel Jesus in contention to start against United

Match-fitness is the only concern for Jesus while Aguero's recovery is almost complete after sustaining a knock in City's FA Cup semi-final loss at the weekend

After recovering from a broken metatarsal within the space of 10 weeks, Gabriel Jesus could feature in the Manchester United derby (Getty)

Pep Guardiola could deploy Sergio Aguero and fit-again Gabriel Jesus for Manchester City's derby clash with United on Thursday night.

Aguero sustained a knock in City’s FA Cup semi-final loss to Arsenal on Sunday but Guardiola has suggested the player’s recovery is almost complete.

As for Jesus, the Catalan said the 19-year-old was “ready” but warned that match-fitness is holding him back after recovering from a broken metatarsal.

In spite of their respective conditions, the pair now look to be in contention to feature in an important fixture that could well go on to determine City’s hopes of securing a top-four finish.

Speaking ahead of the derby, Guardiola said: “Sergio and Gabriel can play together if that's the way we want to play.

“If you want to play with wingers it is more complicated for them to play. But if we play narrow, it is easier.

"Gabriel has no pain at all, so is ready but has had three months out, so his physical condition is not optimal.

Prior to his injury, Jesus had scored three goals in four starts after joining the club in January (Getty)

"Sergio is much better. Today he makes a short part of the training session, tomorrow we will wait (and see)."

Guardiola confirmed, though, that David Silva is a major doubt for Thursday’s game.

The Spain international was forced off after just 23 minutes into Sunday's FA Cup clash with a hamstring injury, having been hit hard by a tackle from Gabriel moments earlier.

Guardiola said: "David Silva is a real, real doubt, I don't know if he will be ready to play after what happened in the first minutes in the semi-final of the FA Cup."


 David Silva looks set to miss out (Getty )
 (Getty)

The stakes are high in the third Manchester derby meeting of the season, with Champions League qualification points on the line.

City, fourth in the Premier League, are just a point ahead of their arch-rivals, who have not lost in the competition since October.

Guardiola said: "They are good, good rivals, good quality, in good form. They've had big series without defeat in the Premier League. They have a lot of quality, history. We're looking forward to the game."

The September derby at Old Trafford was hyped to an extraordinary level for a regular league fixture, with a lot of the attention focusing on the managers.

Guardiola and opposite number Jose Mourinho have a long-standing and bitter rivalry having clashed repeatedly during their times in charge of Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively.

Both have conspicuously avoided fanning any flames since arriving in Manchester last summer, and they have also managed to avoid each other away from their two games.

Asked if there had been any other occasions when he had seen Mourinho, Guardiola said: "No. We are neighbours, but no. I didn't find him."

He suggested the relationship between the pair was also, at least, courteous.

He said: "When we see each other - 'hi-hi'."

City have so far beaten only Arsenal of their top-four rivals at home this season, but Guardiola does not think anything should be read into that.

He said: "We should analyse game by game what happened. The results are a fact but the way we play every game we should talk about. We have six games left, four at the Etihad, so our qualification for the Champions League depends on our games at home.

"Psychologically it is not (important). Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose against the good teams, but it is an important three points to qualify for the Champions League. That is the most important thing."

Additional reporting by PA