Manchester City's Sane makes surprise return to training

Two weeks after suffering an ankle injury courtesy of a horror tackle from Cardiff City defender Joe Bennett, Leroy Sane made a sudden return to first-team duties ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Basel.

Sane was initially expected to miss six weeks - and was spotted on crutches with his left foot in a boot days later at West Brom - but the pacey German international returned to training Monday.

"I’m surprised (Leroy Sane is fit). He works a lot. He wants to help us. He isn’t in the perfect condition, but he is with us," City manager Pep Guardiola told a press conference.

Related: Manchester City's Sane ruled out for up to 6 weeks

Asked if the 22-year-old would be fit to play Tuesday in Switzerland, Guardiola was mum, saying, "He's had one training session. He is young."

City visits the perennial Swiss league champ as the heavy favourite to advance to the quarter-final stage of the Champions League for just the second time, with the return leg at the Etihad in three weeks.

In Sane's absence, Guardiola has opted to play Raheem Sterling on the left, with summer signing Bernardo Silva on the right side of a three-man attack in support of Sergio Aguero. The Catalan gaffer has employed this set-up in City's last three matches, with the runaway Premier League leader outscoring opponents 9-2 over that spell.