Manchester City suddenly have a rash of injuries to contend with as they chase a remarkable Treble in the closing weeks of the season.
Dominant City’s fifth Premier League title in six seasons and run to both the finals of the Champions League and FA Cup have largely been built on managing to avoid many fitness worries, though there are a few concerns piling up now for Pep Guardiola.
City rested several players for Sunday’s win over Chelsea after Arsenal losing at Nottingham Forest 24 hours earlier guaranteed them the title, with a number of key names again missing for Wednesday’s hard-fought draw against Europa League-bound Brighton.
Guardiola’s men travel to Brentford on the final day of the top-flight season on Sunday, before Manchester United lie in wait in the FA Cup final at Wembley on June 3 and Inter Milan then lurk in the Champions League showpiece in Istanbul on June 10.
It’s a hugely important couple of weeks coming up for Man City. Here is all their latest injury news and potential return dates.
John Stones
Stones started for City against Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday, but was replaced by Sergio Gomez late on.
When asked about that substitution after the game, Guardiola said the England defender - who had been playing in midfield at club level - had felt a tightness in an unspecified area.
He did not expand any further however, simply saying that there was no need to take any risks and that he hopes Stones will be back soon.
"John felt tight, he didn’t have anything, we didn’t want to take a risk, so hopefully he can recover as soon as possible,” Guardiola said.
Stones should be fit for the Brentford game on Sunday, though it could be that Guardiola wants to exercise extreme caution with two huge finals to come.
Foden is a similar story to Stones, having started alongside Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez in attack against Brighton.
The England playmaker scored City’s only goal of an entertaining game after 25 minutes, later cancelled out by Julio Enciso’s stunning effort.
However, he was withdrawn in favour of Cole Palmer just six minutes after half-time due to a knock to his leg.
Guardiola explained: “Phil had a knock in the first half, problems in the leg. The doctor told me it was dangerous and we didnt take a risk.”
City will assess Foden’s issue and he is another player who may well not feature against Brentford just in case, even if he does prove his fitness.
Grealish was a surprise absentee from the City squad to face Brighton, with Guardiola lamenting a number of new injury niggles he had also alluded to in his pre-match press conference.
“No, they are not fit,” the Spaniard said of his new raft of injured players. “I don’t know what happened but after winning the Premier League many players got injured - three, four, five, all of them not fit - they are not fit.
“No Aymeric, Manuel, no Ruben, no Grealish. We’ll see how they recover in the next days.”
Grealish will surely not be risked against Brentford if he’s not fully fit, making a return in the FA Cup final most likely at this stage.
Ruben Dias
As with Grealish, Guardiola gave no further details as to the injury currently bothering centre-back Dias.
He will be monitored in the coming days and likely only play a role against Brentford if there is no risk attached.
Guardiola went with Stones and Rodri as a centre-back pairing against Brighton, with Laporte and Akanji also out.
Aymeric Laporte
Laporte was another of the four new injuries referenced by Guardiola on Wednesday night.
The Spaniard had started against Chelsea on Sunday, but is now battling to be fit to face Brentford.
Manuel Akanji
Akanji has been a regular fixture in City’s defence since joining from Borussia Dortmund on a five-year contract last summer.
The Swiss international started alongside Laporte in central defence for the win over Chelsea, but was absent against Brighton.
Much like Grealish, Dias and Laporte, there was no specific detail given by Guardiola on his injury. If he doesn’t play against Brentford, then he will hope to return against either United or Inter.
Nathan Ake
City’s only absentee before this week was Ake, who has not played since the 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Leeds on May 6 after aggravating a hamstring injury.
Guardiola does not want to rush back the versatile Dutch defender, who is very unlikely to play against Brentford on Sunday. However, he could yet play a part in the massive finals to come.
“He’s getting better. He’s at the latter stage (of his recovery),” Guardiola said before facing Brighton.
“We have to be careful after a second time being injured. In case we need him for United or Inter.”
