Soccer-Captain Kompany ready for Man City return against Palace

Sept 22 (Reuters) - Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany could return for Saturday's Premier League visit of Crystal Palace, manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday.

The Belgium centre back has missed City's last four games after picking up a calf injury on international duty.

A late decision will be made on midfielder Ilkay Guendogan's fitness levels following a knee injury during City's 2-1 League Cup win at West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday.

"The injury situation is OK," Guardiola said. "Vinny (Kompany) has come back. Guendogan we will see after training today (Friday)."

League leaders City's slick playing style has made them early title favourites, with 11 of their 16 goals in the league arriving in their last two games.

But Guardiola wants his players to keep their feet firmly on the ground, reminding them of their disappointing end to last season, where they finished 15 points behind winners Chelsea.

"Last season we started quite well like this season, but last year we were not good enough to fight against the best teams," the manager added.

"But it is important that we are there; my only regret last season is that we were not able to fight until the end.

"I think I am a good manager. We are humble and we fight like a normal team. I believe in the quality of the way we play."

City host Roy Hodgson's Palace side, who succumbed to a fifth successive league defeat last weekend without scoring a goal - the worst start in history for an English top-flight club.

"I have a lot of respect for what I saw from Palace against Southampton and Burnley," Guardiola added. "They created a lot of chances. I showed to my players all the chances they created in just two games.

"They will put a lot of long balls into the box and crosses but I admire Hodgson, he has had a long career and that always deserves respect." (Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge)