Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola insists he won't rush back Sergio Aguero after the Argentine missed Saturday's draw with Manchester United.

The veteran striker made his return from injury against Marseille midweek but did not face United due to illness.

"With Sergio it is one step at a time," he explained to reporters. "He made one training session, he was four months out and there are players who, for them, not to be in the squad would not be fair to them.

"That is why sometimes I have to handle the balance of the team. For me it is so tough, to drop Nathan Ake after he was exceptional against Marseille.

"He could not be selected today because there is this rule that there cannot be 19 or 20 players when all the players are available for the squad, some are at home.

"Hopefully Sergio will be back, make more training sessions and as many minutes as possible to come back as soon as possible."