Manchester City have received an injury setback ahead of their crucial Premier League clash with Arsenal this weekend, with Ruben Dias unavailable for selection. The vice-captain sustained an ankle injury last month and is unlikely to feature for the remainder of April.
Pep Guardiola may provide an update on Dias' expected return when he faces reporters on Friday lunchtime, but City will be forced to manage without their defensive leader in the meantime. Nathan Ake partnered Abdukodir Khusanov against Arsenal at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final before Marc Guehi replaced Ake for the Liverpool and Chelsea fixtures.
Pep Guardiola will more than likely call upon that pairing once more but faces a significant selection headache as City look to seize control of the title race.
With Dias joining Josko Gvardiol on the treatment table and uncertainty surrounding John Stones' fitness, the Blues could find themselves with just three senior centre-backs for two pivotal matches within the next four days that could define their entire season.
City host an Arsenal side that are desperately trying to stay on track. Their Carabao Cup final defeat was swiftly followed by a humiliating FA Cup exit at the hands of Championship outfit Southampton, then a home loss to Bournemouth in the Premier League, which has thrown the door wide open for their closest rivals.
Should the Blues manage to beat Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday, they will have the opportunity to climb to the top of the table for the first time in months when they travel to Burnley on Wednesday.
While City's game in hand in the title race is against Palace and will not take place until the closing weeks of the season, their fixture with the Clarets has been brought forward due to City's FA Cup semi-final with Southampton next weekend.
Arsenal face Newcastle at home the following week in the Premier League on Saturday, when City take on Southampton in what could prove to be another pivotal day in determining where England's three major trophies are heading.