Manchester City have been handed a potential injury blow that could leave Pep Guardiola facing a defensive crisis ahead of their huge double-header against Liverpool next month.
The Reds are set to face their title rivals in a crucial Premier League clash at the Etihad on April 10 before taking them on again the following weekend in the semi-finals of the FA Cup at Wembley. Amid those fixtures, City also have to navigate a two-legged Champions League quarter-final tie against Atletico Madrid.
Their manager Guardiola is already sweating over the fitness of defender Ruben Dias, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring problem. Reports suggest he could return to training next week ahead of the gruelling run of fixtures, but medical staff have warned rushing him back could rule him out of more games.
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Fellow City centre-back John Stones was originally named in Gareth Southgate's England starting line-up to take on Switzerland at Wembley this evening. Ahead of kick-off, however, a late change was required after the former Everton man picked up a knock in the warm up and had to be replaced by Arsenal's Ben White.
Southgate said after the match: "We don't think it is too bad and could be ready for the next game. No point risking him in a game like this."
If Stones' injury does prove more serious than Southgate suggests, City will have just Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte as their only fit senior centre-backs.
Liverpool have injury concerns of their own as Trent Alexander-Arnold faces a race against time to be fit for the big game at the Etihad in a few weeks times.
The right-back sustained a hamstring problem prior to the international break and has been undergoing rehab work in Dubai this week. He missed the FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest but Reds boss Jurgen Klopp will hope to have him fit and available for the crucial run of fixtures.
