Manchester City's injury woes deepened against Chelsea with the loss of Gvardiol adding to a lengthening list of injury absences
Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol was forced off injured against ChelseaView Image
Manchester City were handed a significant injury blow during the Premier League game with Chelsea when Josko Gvardiol was forced off early in the second half.
The defender went down under a challenge and immediately signalled to the bench that he needed to be replaced. The Croatia international received treatment on the pitch and had to be helped off the field as Abdukodir Khusanov came on to replace him. It was the youngster's second top flight appearance since September with the Uzbekistan international featuring for the final stages of the win over West Ham before Christmas.
It is the latest injury blow for City with Nico Gonzalez ruled out of the Chelsea game before kick off and Savinho out having been injured at Sunderland. Savinho was expected to miss the match after Pep Guardiola suggested that his injury was serious. Gonzalez left the Stadium of Light as a doubt but was unable to prove his fitness ahead of this match; the manager may give an update on his situation before or after the Chelsea game.
Guardiola was already without three other players through injury, with John Stones, Oscar Bobb and Mateo Kovacic sidelined. They also have Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
In more positive news, Rodri started his first game in three months against Chelsea while Jeremy Doku also came back from injury at Sunderland and impressed in his second-half appearance, although he was only been named on the bench for the Chelsea game.
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City have a busy January, with Chelsea their second game of the month already and seven more games to go. They play Brighton on Wednesday before an FA Cup tie against Exeter offers the chance for Guardiola to rest some players and the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle a few days later will test the strength of the squad.