After six years of near-unbroken success, Manchester City have seen their air of invincibility punctured this season. A combination of a loss of form and transfer market failings have coalesced to stunt City’s imperious march, but the biggest factor of all may be a series of long-term injuries to key players.

On Wednesday, City take on Paris Saint-Germain in a crucial Champions League clash and Pep Guardiola has confirmed that two defensive stalwarts are back in contention.

John Stones is fit to play for the first time since picking up a foot injury in early November. He joins fellow defender Ruben Dias, who made his first start in six matches when he played 90 minutes in the 6-0 drubbing of Ipswich Town last weekend.

“Step by step the players are coming back and hopefully we can be there in the Premier League and qualify here. Today John came back to the team, that is incredibly good news for us,” Guardiola confirmed.

“We can add to the position that we struggled a lot all season. We could not find our rhythm and the guys who have been with us, I could not demand [more] from them as there was a fear of being injured.”

Manchester City are currently 22nd in the new 32-team league phase table, leaving their hopes of qualification to the knock-out rounds hanging by a thread. Guardiola’s team have began to return to form in domestic competition, having now won four of their last five games. However they have not beaten a team of real note since a 2-0 win over Chelsea on the opening day of the season.

The Premier League title is beyond the grasp of City this season, even if they can put together a characteristically strong late-season run of form. The Champions League, however, remains a viable option and a realistic chance to rescue a deeply underwhelming season for the reigning English champions.