EPL Index
·17 September 2024
In partnership with
Yahoo sportsEPL Index
·17 September 2024
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are gearing up for a defining week, with fixtures against Inter Milan and Arsenal looming large. Having edged Brentford 2-1 on Saturday to maintain their lead atop the Premier League, City now shift their focus to European and domestic challenges.
Photo: IMAGO
Guardiola was able to field Savinho in the clash against Brentford, despite earlier injury concerns. Rodri also made his first appearance of the season, introduced at half-time, while Phil Foden remained on the bench, unused.
City will have to cope without Nathan Ake for the foreseeable future after the Dutch defender picked up a thigh injury during the Netherlands’ 2-2 draw against Germany. Ake, who missed Saturday’s victory, is expected to be unavailable until late October. Guardiola acknowledged the frustration around Ake’s injury, saying: “Injured, I think until the next international break. We are unlucky with Nathan – every time he goes [to play for the Netherlands], he comes back injured.” Ake’s potential return date is Sunday, October 20, when City face Wolves.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Oscar Bobb is unlikely to return until the end of the year following a pre-season training injury. The young midfielder fractured a bone in his leg after impressing in City’s penalty shootout victory over Manchester United in the Community Shield. Guardiola explained: “It was in the training session. Unfortunately, he had a big impact and got injured. He is having surgery. Hopefully, it will go well, and he will be back in 3-4 months.” Bobb’s expected return is pencilled in for November or December.
City fans will be hoping for a swift recovery for both players as the season ramps up.