Manuel Akanji injury: Man City defender to undergo surgery today as Pep Guardiola reveals return timeframe | OneFootball

Man City set to be without a key defender for at least two months

Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji is set to undergo surgery today and is facing up to 10 weeks out, Pep Guardiola has confirmed.

There had been reports that the Switzerland international would miss the remainder of the season through injury, but Guardiola has revealed a timeline for the defender’s return.

Speaking on Friday afternoon, the Man City boss said: “Surgery on Saturday, eight to 10 weeks out. Abductor (injury) I think so, broken.

“We wish the best recovery for Manuel because the effort that he has done this season has been unbelievable because him and Nathan [Ake] as well have played in difficult conditions, not being in top [form] and to help the team in emergencies in the position we had in a lack of players in that position.

“In the end the body said ‘enough is enough’.”

Guardiola had a more positive update on Jack Grealish after he too limped off in the first-half of the Champions League knockout phase playoff first-leg defeat.

The attacking midfielder is a doubt to face Newcastle on Saturday, but his injury is less serious than Akanji’s.

Jack Grealish sustained an injury against Real Madrid

AFP via Getty Images

"It's not as tough as what Manu [Akanji] has done but I don't know if tomorrow he will be ready,” Guardiola added. “I don't think so, but we will see, we will assess in the next hours.”

Guardiola concluded the team news update by confirming the latest on deadline day signing Nico Gonzalez after the midfielder was forced off early on his Man City debut against Leyton Orient last weekend and was an unused substitute against Madrid during the week.

"It wasn't a difficult start, he was just injured,” Guardiola said. “A difficult start is when you play bad, and that was not the case for the 20 minutes he played.

“But of course it was a setback; he had a little pain and for [Real] Madrid he was not fully, fully-fit. Day by day he's getting better, like I said before with Jack, we will assess in a few hours."