Ilkay Gundogan makes Manchester City comeback in Girona friendly

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 15 August 2017

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan makes his return from an eight-month injury absence during Tuesday's 1-0 friendly defeat away to Girona.

Ilkay Gundogan has emerged unscathed after making his first appearance in eight months for Manchester City in Tuesday's 1-0 friendly defeat away to Girona.

The 26-year-old Germany international, who joined the two-time Premier League champions from Borussia Dortmund last year, only made 16 appearances before he suffered cruciate ligament damage.

Gundogan has not played since last December, and City's opening-day 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion came too early for him, but he replaced Phil Foden 71 minutes into the match at the Estadi Montilivi.

Only central defender John Stones and full-back Danilo kept their places in the starting lineup from the Citizens team that beat the Seagulls on Saturday, with the game in Spain settled by Portu's early strike.

City Football Group (CFG), Man City's parent company, has agreed to take a large shareholding in the Catalan club, who face Atletico Madrid in their opening La Liga match on Saturday after winning promotion to the Spanish top flight last season.