Manchester City defender ruled out of Real Madrid Champions League quarter-final clash with “quite serious” injury

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have been handed a major blow ahead of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash with Real Madrid.

Kyle Walker, who missed Sunday’s goalless draw with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League, is facing the prospect of missing Manchester City’s huge UEFA Champions League last-eight tie with Real Madrid next week.

The 33-year-old suffered a hamstring injury during international duty with England, as the Manchester City captain was withdrawn during the first-half of a friendly against Brazil at Wembley Stadium.

The full-back has made 38 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side already this season, and was crucial to the Sky Blues’ emphatic victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals last season, with Manchester City going on to lift the European trophy.

Walker has played against Real Madrid five times since moving to the Etihad Stadium in 2017, but looks set to miss next Tuesday’s trip to the Santiago Bernabéu.

City travel to Spain for the first-leg next week following Premier League matches against both Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, with the second-leg clash taking place at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday 17th April.

Walker is one of several defensive injury doubts ahead of three crucial fixtures across the Premier League and Champions League, with goalkeeper Ederson and centre-backs Nathan Ake and John Stones also facing injury issues.

Guardiola has been coy on the fitness of his squad in recent days, but has revealed that Walker is set to miss the Real Madrid clash due to injury.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s match against Aston Villa, Guardiola said: “Listen, the doctor said, ‘no’. But, Kyle is Kyle, he has special genetics. But what the doctor said to me, it was quite serious. But, as I said, Kyle is Kyle.”

Manchester City could also be without Ederson for the trip to the La Liga giants, with the shot-stopper having not featured since a 1-1 draw with Liverpool last month, where the Brazilian was withdrawn after a collision with Darwin Nunez.