Evening Standard
·24 October 2024
Evening Standard
·24 October 2024
Pep Guardiola will be without two wingers for upcoming matches
Manchester City have had two more players added to their injury list, leaving them short in wide areas.
Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku were absent as City cruised past Sparta Prague in the Champions League, adding a couple of fresh concerns for Pep Guardiola to deal with.
Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker also missed that match, while Oscar Bobb and Rodri are longer-term absentees.
Here is the latest Man City injury news....
Grealish is set to be out for up to 10 days after missing City’s win over Sparta Prague.
The winger came off the bench against Wolves over the weekend but did not make the squad for the midweek European match, with Guardiola revealing Grealish had picked up an unspecified injury.
“Hopefully Jack will be maybe one week, 10 days,” the City said ahead of his side’s Champions League victory.
Potential return date: November 5, vs Sporting
De Bruyne has been sidelined with injury since being forced off at half-time of City’s opening Champions League clash with Inter Milan last month.
Guardiola had suggested his star midfielder could be back during the international break, but later went back on his statement.
“It’s better, less minutes, but the players don’t say that. They want to play every single game. That’s nice. That’s fine. But sometimes the body sends warnings.
“I’m here, so we have to [be careful], because they are human, a lot of games, a lot of years, many years injured, and the consequences are here.”
The Belgian missed Wednesday’s clash with Sparta Prague, with a return from the bench against Southampton at the weekend appearing a more realistic goal.
Potential return date: October 26, vs Southampton
Kevin De Bruyne is closing in on a return
AFP via Getty Images
Like Grealish, Doku was also not involved against Sparta Prague, despite starting against Wolves in the last Premier League match.
Guardiola confirmed that Doku will be out for “a little longer” than Grealish, meaning the Belgian faces at least a couple of weeks on the sidelines.
City’s last match before next month’s international break is on November 9 against Brighton, with it possible that Doku does not return before then.
Potential return date: November 23 vs Tottenham
The City captain had missed the past two matches having picked up a “minor knock” while away on international duty.
Walker represented England but returned to his club not fully fit, continuing a stop-start season for him to date.
Having had his pre-season disrupted following EURO 2024 and Rico Lewis’ emergence, the 34-year-old has started just four of 13 games so far for the champions. Potential return date: October 26, vs Southampton
Kyle Walker has had a frustrating start to the season
Action Images via Reuters
After impressing in pre-season, City would have hoped for Bobb to play a significant role in their campaign, but that excitement was swiftly ended by a serious injury on the eve of the new Premier League season.
The winger suffered a leg fracture in training and surgery was required, meaning he has not yet made an appearance and a return is not believed to be imminent.
An initial timeframe of four months out would mean Bobb could be available again before Christmas, but his return is likely still a couple of months away.
Potential return date: December
In a huge blow to City’s hopes of major honours this season, Rodri suffered ACL and meniscus damage against Arsenal, with it confirmed that his season has come to a premature end.
"He had surgery this morning, ACL and some meniscus," Guardiola said before his side’s draw at Newcastle last month. "Next season he will be here. This season is over [for him]. It is what it is.
"Unfortunately, we got the worst [news] but it is what it is at this level. Sometimes, unfortunately, it happens. We are just there to support him and [help him make a] good recovery, step by step, and move forward.”
Potential return date: Summer 2025
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