Evening Standard
·28 October 2024
Evening Standard
·28 October 2024
Pep Guardiola’s side missing key players as fixtures pile up
Manchester City are missing a host of key players as they attempt to battle across all fronts this season.
Pep Guardiola’s side beat Southampton 1-0 on Saturday to keep up the pace in the Premier League title race but again face a busy week.
Wednesday sees Man City head to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup before they travel to Bournemouth when the League gets back underway on Saturday.
Guardiola’s team face a trip to Lisbon to meet Sporting in the Champions League and a journey down to Brighton before the international break too, making for a hectic schedule.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the latest Manchester City injuries…
Kevin De Bruyne has not played for City since the draw with Inter Milan in September and Guardiola was coy on a potential return date when speaking before the Saints game.
"I don't know,” Guardiola said of the Belgian.
“Of course, I prefer to have all the squad with this amount of games. But it is what it is. Hopefully he comes back soon. I don't know yet, I would like to tell you, but I don't know..."
Potential return date: Unknown
Kyle Walker has missed City’s last two Premier League games as his stop-start season continues.
The England international has started only three League games thus far and Guardiola admitted the defender was still dealing with a knee injury before the Saints game.
“I think he is not ready,” said the City boss.
“Since being with the national team, he’s not been well.”
Potential return date: Unknown
Jack Grealish missed the 5-0 win over Sparta Prague and then Saturday’s victory and Guardiola hinted he could be facing around ten days on the sidelines, which would presumably rule him out of the Spurs game.
Jack Grealish is expected to miss Manchester City’s game with Tottenham on Wednesday
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Potential return date: November 2024
Fellow winger Jeremy Doku is expected to miss a “little longer” than Grealish following an unspecified injury.
Potential return date: November 2024
Big things were expected of Oscar Bobb this season but the forward is yet kick a ball due to a leg injury. He is expected back in the New Year.
Potential return date: January/February 2025
Rodri, one of City’s most influential players, will not play again this season following surgery on a serious knee injury.
Potential return date: Summer 2025
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