Pep Guardiola confirms Jeremy Doku injury development in fresh Manchester City blow | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has detailed the circumstances surrounding Jeremy Doku’s absence from the squad in Paris this week.

The Belgian winger was starting to find a strong run of form in Guardiola’s starting line-ups in recent weeks, recording a stellar performance in an 8-0 home win over Salford City in the FA Cup third round, before a commanding showing at Ipswich Town would follow.

However, with some believing that the left-wing spot could start to be dominated by the 22-year-old, further frustration has now struck the forward in a challenging campaign for the former Stade Rennes man.

Doku has already missed nine games across competitions for Manchester City so far this season directly due to injury problems, and his latest setback will open up a strong opportunity for Jack Grealish and Savinho in particular to impress.

Speaking to television broadcasters prior to the matchday seven clash with Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital, Guardiola revealed that his Belgian winger had sustained an injury problem during the closing exchanges of the 0-6 win over Ipswich Town last weekend.

“He’s injured,” Guardiola confirmed, when asked for an update on the status of Jeremy Doku, who was the most notable absence from the club’s travelling squad in Paris.

Guardiola continued, “Otherwise he would’ve travelled (with the squad). The last minutes at Ipswich he felt something, and unfortunately he could not be here.”

Jeremy Doku’s setback prior to the damning 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital on Wednesday night was added to on the pitch when Ruben Dias was forced off at the half-time interval with his own injury concern.

Pep Guardiola revealed to reporters after the contest at the Parc des Princes that Dias had requested to be withdrawn from the contest at the half-time interval, replaced by Rico Lewis, after he “didn’t feel good” during the opening 45 minutes.

City may be less concerned about their defensive situation now compared to earlier in the season, after the club confirmed the double-signing of Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov from Palmeiras and RC Lens respectively earlier in the week.

Both men are expected to be available for Pep Guardiola’s line-up selection as soon as this weekend, when top-four challengers Chelsea visit the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday evening.