Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola does not want to be impatient with star striker Sergio Aguero.

The Argentine has suffered several injury problems in recent months, limiting his playing time.

In his absence, City have struggled to score goals in the Premier League.

"I'm not going to say that we don't need Sergio, we need him," said Guardiola after his team lost 2-0 away to Tottenham on Saturday.

"But Sergio, who is 32, was out for five months with a dangerous and difficult injury. He came back and played 50 or 55 minutes and he is injured again.

"We want him and I want Sergio fit because I'm not just discovering now how important he is for us.

"But we have to be careful [to make sure he does] not come back and get injured again.

"You have to see the right moment to put him in again and hopefully it can be soon and he can maintain the regularity to play games."