Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero could return for Wednesday’s Champions League group match against Marseille.

The Argentine has featured for 12 minutes since being replaced at half-time against West Ham on 24 October.

“We will decide tomorrow. Sergio may be on the bench,” said Blues boss Pep Guardiola, whose side have already guaranteed top spot in Group C and a place in the last 16.

“He will train today and we will see the reaction tomorrow. The good thing is he has been part of the group for the last three or four days. The niggles he has had in the in past are not there.”

City have the Manchester derby against rivals United in the Premier League on Saturday (17:30 GMT) but Guardiola says he will not rest players against French side Marseille on Wednesday.

“We’ll play the game to win, I don’t rotate the team,” said Guardiola.

“I try to put the players in the best condition, decide the best for the specific team. There’s not one team for one competition and one for another.

“The team that plays tomorrow, they can play United – or maybe not. I want to win this game, it’s not because of one more day or less.”

Reserve goalkeeper Zack Steffen could make his Champions League debut and the American said it would be a dream come true.

“Walking out and hearing the song is going to be really special for me and my family,” said the 25-year-old, who has made two City appearances, both in the Carabao Cup.

“I am excited to get out there and play another game.

“I have learned a lot so far. I feel I have got better and it has been an awesome time.”

‘Their B team could win the competition’

Ligue 1 side Marseille are bottom of the group, but could qualify for the Europa League, depending on their result and how third-placed Olympiakos fare against Porto.

Andre Villas-Boas’ men need to better the Greek team’s result but the former Spurs and Chelsea manager is not expecting any Manchester City rotation to work in their favour.

“Qualifying is not in our hands,” said Villas-Boas.

“Hopefully Porto will do us a favour but we know it is going to be hard against Manchester City. They have so many options, and so many top-level options as well.

“We cannot rely on Porto but we must be at our best to get a positive result because City’s B team are strong enough to win the Champions League.”

What are Man City’s chances of winning the Champions League?

Entertainment data company Gracenote say Manchester City have a 13% chance of winning the Champions League.

Simon Gleave, head of sports analysis at Nielsen’s Gracenote, said: “Like Liverpool, Manchester City’s chance of winning this season’s Champions League has barely changed because City were almost certain to reach the knockout stage.

Manchester City are third favourites behind holders Bayern Munich and Liverpool to win the competition, according to the Euro Club Index.

Points recording looming for City? – the stats

• Since Guardiola took charge of Manchester City, a third of their defeats in the Champions League have been by French teams – three out of nine.
• City have conceded only one goal in the Champions League this season (the joint fewest alongside Chelsea). The last side to concede as few by the end of the group stages was Barcelona in 2017-18 (one), while the last English side was Manchester United in 2010-11 (also one).
• Should Manchester City beat Marseille, they will finish the group with 16 points, the joint most of any English side in a single group stage, along with Arsenal in 2005-06 (finalists), Manchester United in 2007-08 (winners), and Tottenham Hotspur in 2017-18 (last 16).
• City have kept a clean sheet in four consecutive Champions League matches since conceding one goal at home to Porto in October. The last side to record five or more consecutive shutouts in the competition was Juventus in 2016-17 (Porto are also on a run of four consecutive clean sheets in the competition).
• Marseille have lost their past seven away games in the Champions League. Another defeat on Wednesday would see them record their worst losing run on the road in the competition.