Sergio Aguero declares himself fit for Argentina despite calf problem

10 October 2016 17:53

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will be watching Argentina's World Cup qualifier against Paraguay closely after striker Sergio Aguero declared himself fit to play.

City's leading scorer, who has 11 in eight matches, was forced off in the 73rd minute of Thursday's 2-2 draw in Peru with a calf problem.

However, the 28-year-old has insisted he is ready to play on Tuesday night - local time - despite Saturday's Premier League visit of Everton being followed by a midweek Champions League trip to Barcelona.

Reports in his homeland said Aguero trained with the team on Monday but that he looked in some discomfort.

"You always want to play in the national team and try to do the best," he told Argentina newspaper Ole.

"For now I feel good physically, within five minutes of the second half against Peru I began to feel the tiredness on the calf, (the coach) noticed and took me out.

"But I'm quite well now: you get physical fitness playing, not training. (Coach Edgardo) Bauza has the decision - I'll be available for Tuesday."

Aguero's own self-diagnosis of his latest problem is that he has been over-compensating after a groin injury in the 3-3 Champions League draw with Celtic at the end of last month.

"It was hard, it had rained, the grass was high and muddy, and since then I've been having a bit of an overload," he added.

"I recovered well for two days, then I played against Tottenham, and travelled and sometimes the matter of travelling - resting, the schedule changes, doesn't help but I'm pretty good.

"I wanted to play against Peru, to be available, and I endured everything I could.

"Luckily the pain I had before Peru went away, it was on the adductor, and certainly to protect the adductor I overloaded the calf a little.

"After the Peru game I had two days to recover and I did a little bit of football today.

"I'm quite well and I'm trying to get as fresh as possible for Tuesday."

Source: PA