Manchester City's Covid-hit stars tune up for semi-final clash with rivals United - in pictures

'We don't have many players' says Pep Guardiola ahead of Old Trafford showdown

Manchester City's Raheem Sterling looking relaxed during training ahead of the League Cup semi-final against Manchester United. Getty

Striker Sergio Aguero feels the cold in the training session. Getty

Ilkay Gundogan and John Stones on the ball at training. Getty

Sergio Aguero finally warms up. Getty

Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City in action during training session. Getty

Oleksandr Zinchenko in action. Getty

Defender John Stones looking relaxed. Getty

Bernardo Silva of Manchester City in action. Getty

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he has a depleted squad for Wednesday's League Cup semi-final at Manchester United because of the impact of a Covid-19 outbreak at the Etihad club.

Teams can name nine substitutes on bench in the League Cup semi-finals and final, but City had six players unavailable due to positive tests in their 3-1 Premier League win at Chelsea last weekend.

Their game at Everton last week was also postponed due to several positive cases in their camp, with the Manchester club joining Newcastle United, Sheffield United and Fulham among those who have suffered virus outbreaks in the top flight.

"We don't have many players," Guardiola told Sky Sports after putting Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and other City stars through their final training session before the big game.

"To play one, two games is okay, but if sustained for a long time - and you can use just 14 or 15 players - it will be more difficult.

"But we have to adjust as much as possible. We don't have an alternative. The important thing is the guys who have Covid recover well and the others try to avoid it as much as possible."

The Premier League returned 40 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, the highest in a week this season, after two rounds of testing last week.

But despite the surging infections in England caused by a new variant of the virus, the Premier League has said games will be held as scheduled with the competition being allowed to continue during the national lockdown.

"It looks like we are an island inside the society. It's like everything is locked down except ourselves," Guardiola added.

"They [players] have to be careful what they do. Social distance, be careful and be lucky because even doing as best as possible, there are risks."