Pep Guardiola issues concerning update over Nathan Ake injury sustained in Arsenal draw – Doubts over Real Madrid availability

Manchester City appear set to be without star defensive option Nathan Ake for a number of upcoming matches following his injury sustained against Arsenal.

The Netherlands international centre-back withdrew early from Manchester City’s high-profile Premier League title battle with the Gunners on Sunday afternoon after sustaining what appeared to be a calf problem.

Rico Lewis came on in the former Bournemouth man’s place and performed to a high standard for the remainder of the contest, and it now appears as though the teenage England international could be called upon more regularly in the coming weeks.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of Manchester City’s meeting with Aston Villa in the Premier League on Wednesday night, Pep Guardiola confirmed Nathan Ake would play no part in the contest and could miss the club’s “next games”.

The Manchester City manager confirmed that the Dutch international is “injured”, and while he will “hopefully be back soon”, Ake would be absent on Wednesday night with assessments made over a return in the club’s upcoming fixtures.

“Injured,” Guardiola bluntly responded when quizzed on the fitness of Ake. When pressed for a timeframe, the City boss continued, “I don’t know. No (it’s not season over for him). There’s two months left, one month and a half, two months left.

“Hopefully he will be back soon, but I don’t know exactly the timing. That’s for sure for the next games he will not be ready.”

Following the meeting with Unai Emery’s Aston Villa this week, Manchester City face an extremely short turnaround before their next outing, as they travel to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off.

The clash in South London will be City’s final outing before turning their attentions back to UEFA Champions League duties, with Real Madrid awaiting in the quarter-finals of Europe’s premier competition with the first-leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

A meeting with Luton Town in the Premier League separates the two legs in the last-eight, while Manchester City will be hoping to have Kyle Walker, Ederson, and Nathan Ake all back up to speed by the time those two fixtures come around in a hectic April schedule.