Rodri makes City comeback after eight-month absence

Having been given medical clearance earlier on Tuesday, Rodrigo Hernandez was back in the matchday squad for Manchester City's crunch against Bournemouth in the Premier League - his first time after eight months.

The Ballon d'Or winner has been sidelined since September 22 after suffering a cruciate ligament injury against Arsenal. But at last, after months of recovery, he finally returned to action in the closing moments of the game.

Rodri was brought on in the 83rd minute to replace defender Josko Gvardiol. After saying goodbye to departing captain Kevin de Bruyne less than 15 minutes before, the Etihad roared as the Spaniard stepped onto the pitch 

The 28-year-old's return is excellent news for City, who struggled immensely without him, so much so that they ended the campaign without a trophy for the first time since Pep Guardiola first took over in 2016/17.

However, the Sky Blues are now on the brink of Champions League qualification following their 3-1 win at the Etihad. A point when they travel to Fulham on the Premier League finale will be enough to secure a top-five finish.