Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has explained that Vincent Kompany is making progress in his road to recovery.

Kompany started City's 1-0 defeat against Manchester United in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night but the defender did not appear on the pitch after the interval at Old Trafford.

Following the game, Guardiola explained that Kompany was subbed off at half-time as a precaution rather than due to an injury and added that the defender starting consecutive games (for the first time in seven months) is actually a step in the right direction.

Guardiola said: "It is important after two years injured.

"Three days ago he played 70 minutes, here 45 and no injury. That is a good step, the first step. After we have to see.

"The important thing is he is not injured. Of course he felt not good. That's why we made the substitution, knowing what happened in the past."

Kompany got through 78 minutes of Sunday's 1-1 draw with Southampton before playing a half in the fourth round of the league cup against United.