FBL-ENG-PR-MAN CITY-CHELSEA
Guardiola will be without two key figures for a number of weeks (Picture: Getty)
Manchester City will be without Josko Gvardiol ‘for a long time’ with Ruben Dias also facing up to six weeks on the sidelines.
Pep Guardiola’s side were dealt two devastating injury blows in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea with both defenders forced off in the second-half.
City confirmed on Monday Gvardiol will undergo surgery on a broken shinbone. While there is no specific timeline on how long the Croatia international will be unavailable for, Guardiola said at a press conference on Tuesday he will be ‘out for a long time’.
Dias meanwhile had played the full 90 minutes in all but one of City’s Premier League games this season before he was forced off after 81 minutes on Sunday.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s clash against Brighton, Guardiola confirmed his defender will be unavailable for a month minimum.
‘It is a hamstring. Four to six weeks,’ Guardiola said.
City are already without John Stones who has not features since the start of December due to a thigh injury. The England international has started just four league games this term with his manager explaining he is no closer to a return.
Manchester City v Chelsea - Premier League
Gvardiol will be out for ‘a long time’ (Picture: Getty)
‘No idea. He is not ready for the next games,’ Guardiola said.
City have already sought reinforcements by recalling Max Alleyne from his loan spell at Watford.
They have also emerged as contenders to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace with blows for Gvardiol and Stones possibly set to accelerate plans to sign the Crystal Palace star.
Guehi has entered the final six months of his contract at Selhurst Park.
Manchester City v Chelsea - Premier League
Dias out for up to six weeks (Picture: Getty Images)
‘Everybody knows it [is difficult],’ Guardiola said of the current defensive woes at the Etihad.
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‘We have Nathan [Ake] back, a central defender. Max Alleyne has come back from his loan at Watford.
‘We appreciate Watford for what they have done for the young lad. That is the situation.’
Draws against Sunderland and Chelsea in their last two games have seen City give up ground to Arsenal in the title race.
Mikel Arteta’s side now sit six points clear of City with those injury blows at the back doing little to help their cause in the coming weeks.
After the Brighton game on Wednesday, City are in FA Cup action against Exeter City before a huge Manchester derby on 17 January.
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