Pep Guardiola reveals latest blow in mixed Man City injury update for Tottenham clash

Manchester City person been hindered by injuries this play and Pep Guardiola had immoderate much atrocious quality to present up of their Premier League lucifer against Tottenham

Manchester City person been handed a immense stroke aft Mateo Kovacic was ruled retired for up to a period by Pep Guardiola.

Kovacic has been a cardinal subordinate for City this season, with his value successful midfield amplified by the season-ending genu wounded sustained by Rodri successful September. City person missed their Ballon d’Or-winning prima successful the mediate of the parkland – and the quality of Kovacic’s lack volition compound things aft 4 consecutive defeats.

He was substituted successful Croatia’s 1-1 gully against Portugal connected Monday successful Split and Guardiola has present confirmed the severity of the problem.

"Kovacic is injured. It volition beryllium a while, 3 weeks oregon a month," Guardiola said successful his property league up of City’s Premier League crippled against Tottenham connected Saturday evening.

Kovacic had started 7 of City’s past 10 games, but helium could present miss 8 games successful the important play earlier Christmas. The 30-year-old midfielder has 3 goals successful 11 league games this season, netting a brace successful the 3-2 triumph implicit Fulham past month.

City person been beset by injuries successful caller weeks and had been forced to tract a much-changed defence earlier the planetary break, with academy prima Jahmai Simpson-Pusey thrust into the spotlight. Guardiola did astatine slightest person immoderate bully quality connected that front, with John Stones and Manuel Akanji present disposable and Nathan Ake making bully progress.

"John, Manu trained bully yesterday,” helium said. “Nathan is coming backmost training. We had nary cardinal defenders, present we person three. Just Ruben [Dias] is retired but helium is coming backmost soon. I don't cognize if they’re acceptable to play 90 minutes, but to spot their faces successful the grooming league is truly good."

Guardiola besides utilized the accidental to criticise England for their attraction of 19-year-old centre-back Max Alleyne, who picked up an wounded portion connected planetary work with the under-21s. "Max Alleyne arsenic good volition beryllium injured," said Guardiola.

"To spell to the U21s due to the fact that they pushed his limits and helium came backmost injured. They should beryllium much successful interaction with the doctors of the nationalist teams and the doctors from here, due to the fact that if 1 subordinate goes not successful a cleanable information and trains with the U21s successful the greeting and successful the day with the U20s, and past plays 2 games not afloat acceptable it's mean that helium is injured and we volition suffer him for 3 weeks to a period again."

City person mislaid their past 4 matches successful each competitions – an unprecedented streak nether Guardiola’s management. Nevertheless, they person the accidental to chopped the spread to Liverpool to 2 points connected Saturday evening, with their rivals not facing Southampton until Sunday.

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