In his own words, Ben Knight can't catch a break with injuries as he tries to kick-start his Manchester City career. Only last season, he was part of a trimmed-down pre-season squad for Pep Guardiola, playing for the City first team in their friendlies and making his debut in the Community Shield defeat to Leicester at Wembley.
Since then, though, Knight's fortunes have turned away from him, with a loan to Crewe in League One meant to show he can replicate his impressive academy promise in professional football.
For a while, Knight did just that scoring his first senior goal and adding another assist in 10 outings for Crewe. However, a knee injury in September ruled him out for ten games, and despite another goal and assist in a five-game comeback, he was later ruled out for the season in December with more injury problems.
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Crewe were relegated to League Two in his absence, and as other City teammates secured permanent or loan transfers away from the Etihad this summer, Knight, 20, remained at the club - in limbo between the academy and first team.
He has been a familiar face in senior training, even making the bench on two Premier League home games, and has played the last two Premier League 2 fixtures as a substitute. His start in the EFL Trophy at Derby County on Tuesday was his first for any side in ten months, however, he left the Pride Park pitch on a stretcher with another injury.
EDS head coach Brian Barry-Murphy couldn't offer any immediate diagnosis of Knight's latest setback after the game, with the forward later taking to social media to express his frustration at another injury just as he was starting to get back to playing games.
On Instagram, he wrote: "Can't catch a break with injuries right now. Fingers crossed it's nothing major."
City's under-21s have a home fixture with Crystal Palace this weekend, before away fixtures against Everton and Manchester United in the league, and an EFL Trophy decider at Grimsby where a win (either in 90 minutes or on penalties) will see them top their group and progress to the knockout stages.
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