'No call' from Spain boss over Rod selection

PEP Guardiola revealed he had no contact with Spain boss Luis de la Fuente before Rodri was named in his squad for World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Turkey.

- By TYRONE MARSHALL

The Ballon d'Or winner has played just 15 minutes of football in the first two games of the season as he continues to get up to speed after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament 11 months ago.

Rodri was back in action at the end of last season and featured in the Club World Cup, but he limped out of the defeat to Al-Hilal and is continuing to work his way back to fitness.

The 29-year-old is unlikely to start for City at Brighton tomorrow, with Guardiola easing him back in and hoping he will be closer to starting in the fixtures against United and Arsenal after the international break.