Manchester City’s season was ruined by injuries the previous year, and three games into the current campaign, the problems are returning.
With three points from nine games, the Blues are mired in the bottom part of the standings after suffering back-to-back losses leading up to the international break.
When the Premier League starts up again, City will play a Manchester derby before playing Napoli in the Champions League and visiting Arsenal in the top flight. The Blues may be without a number of their senior defenders during this crucial week. The most recent injury news is here.
John Stones
Injury: Muscle
Before facing England, the 31-year-old played the entire 90 minutes at Brighton and started all three of City’s games this season.
However, Thomas Tuchel, the manager of the Three Lions, stated that he did not want to take a chance on the center-back in the World Cup qualifying matches against Serbia and Andorra.
“Unfortunately, John Stones [has] just left,” Tuchel said on Friday. “He came with minor muscle issues to camp and didn’t progress the way we thought and hoped he would so he left camp this morning because we will not take the risk against Andorra and also unfortunately against Serbia.”
A City statement said Stones had pulled out of the squad as a “precautionary measure” but it remains to be seen whether he will be fit to face United.
Potential return date: Manchester United (H) Sunday, September 14
Abdukodir Khusanov
Injury: Calf
Khusanov faces a race to be fit for the derby after pulling out of the Uzbekistan squad with a calf injury picked up in City’s win at Brighton.
The 21-year-old came off injured towards the end of the Blues’ defeat on the south coast, and tests have revealed he has picked up a minor injury that is set to keep him out for two weeks.
A statement from the Uzbekistan FA said: “Uzbekistan national team defender Abdukodir Khusanov felt unwell yesterday during Manchester City’s match against Brighton. After tests, it was revealed that our player has a minor injury to his left calf muscle.
“According to preliminary findings, the recovery period is expected to be two weeks. It was announced that Khusanov will not be able to participate in the CAFA Nations Cup tournament, according to doctors’ recommendations.”
Potential return date: Manchester United (H) Sunday, September 14
Rico Lewis
Injury: Unknown
The defender pulled out of the England Under-21 squad with an undisclosed injury. City said the full back will be assessed at the CFA ahead of the derby.
Potential return date: Manchester United (H) Sunday, September 14
Rayan Cherki
Injury: Thigh
The France international is sidelined for two months after picking up a thigh injury. It could result in Cherki missing 10 matches with the forward absent for the defeat to Brighton last time out.
Potential return date: Aston Villa (A), October 26
Rayan Ait-Nouri
Injury: Ankle
Ait-Nouri suffered an ankle injury in the early stages of his home debut against Tottenham,
The £31million summer signing from Wolves played against Brighton but did not join up with the Algeria squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Botswana and Guinea.
Potential return date: Manchester United (H) Sunday, September 14
Phil Foden
Injury: Fitness
The midfielder missed the Brighton game with injury. He missed the final friendly of the summer with an ankle injury that saw him out of the squad for the Premier League opener at Wolves.
He was on the bench at home to Spurs and came on for a few minutes, but missed Brighton having been described as ‘not fully fit’. The 25-year-old was left out of the England squad for the upcoming September games and he faces a battle to recover his fitness and his form.
Potential return date: Manchester United (H) Sunday, September 14
Nico O’Reilly
Injury: Unknown
The midfielder withdrew from the England Under-21 squad with an undisclosed injury. City said the academy graduate will be assessed at the CFA ahead of the derby.
Potential return date: Manchester United (H) Sunday, September 14
Savinho
Injury: Unknown
Savinho has been absent all season with an unspecified problem. Tottenham were keen on signing the Brazilian, who appeared open to the move, but City have closed the door on an exit and expect the player to return after the international break.
Potential return date: Manchester United (H) Sunday, September 14
Josko Gvardiol
Injury: Unknown
Gvardiol has not featured in a matchday squad yet this season. The Croatian has returned to light training but has yet to be passed fit enough to feature.
Potential return date: Manchester United (H) Sunday, September 14
Mateo Kovacic
Injury: Achilles
The midfielder could be out until October with the Achilles injury that he had surgery on this summer. Kovacic went under the knife shortly after the season finished, missing the Club World Cup and the rest of pre-season with the hope that he would be able to be fit around the start of the new campaign. But he is now set to be absent until at least the October international break.
Potential return date: Everton (H), October 18
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