Pep Guardiola blasts Lee Carsley after England interim manager called up injured star for upcoming internationals as Man City boss sarcastically claims: ‘He knows better than me’

 Pep Guardiola is bemused by Jack Grealish’s England call-up and claims interim national boss Lee Carsley has not even asked Manchester City’s opinion on the player’s fitness.

Grealish suffered a hamstring injury three weeks ago and has not featured for City since, with Guardiola ruling the 29-year-old out of Saturday’s game at Brighton. He has returned to gym work, with two light sessions, and trained with City for 20 minutes on Saturday. But the winger wants to join up with England, much to Guardiola’s annoyance.

‘It’s a question for the England manager — I’m not involved,’ he said. ‘They can select who they want.

‘Jack trained today and believes he can help us — I’m not the guy to say you cannot go (on international duty). But for my team, he’s not fit. He cannot play.

‘All I can say is that for a couple of days over two weeks he didn’t train but the people from England believe he can help them. So go.’ Guardiola added sarcastically: ‘The manager from the UK knows better than me.’

Grealish has been absent for the Premier League champions since picking up a hamstring injury three weeks ago

Guardiola has claimed that interim boss Lee Carsley did not consult him on the winger’s fitness 

Asked if Carsley had reached out for an update on Grealish’s fitness, Guardiola said no, adding that City’s medical department ‘haven’t told me they spoke’ to their England counterparts.

FA sources on Friday night insisted they did consult City’s doctors about Grealish’s availability before calling him up.

A terse Guardiola also revealed he does not plan to go to meet City’s owners over the international break as questions swirl over his future. The 53-year-old is out of contract in the summer.