Pep Guardiola provides Mateo Kovacic injury update after Man City win vs Ipswich Town

Pep Guardiola has provided an injury update on Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic after he was forced off during the 4-1 win over Ipswich Town.

It was a chaotic start to the game for Manchester City, who conceded a sloppy goal after seven minutes, with question marks surrounding Ederson’s attempts to keep it out.

However, Pep Guardiola’s men responded decisively. Savinho did exceptionally well to win a penalty, which Erling Haaland converted, only five minutes after the opener.

Then, within a few minutes, two goals courtesy of Kevin de Bruyne and Haaland again gave City a 3-1 lead before the Premier League newcomers even had time to blink.

City’s Norwegian star added another goal late in the second half to secure his hat-trick shortly after Ilkay Gündogan made his second debut for the club after signing from Barcelona earlier this week.

Mateo Kovacic, who was named the Man of the Match in City’s opening game against Chelsea, was once again having a solid game in Rodri’s absence.

But after an issue towards the beginning of the second half, Guardiola took no chances and, on 50 minutes, substituted the Croatian for John Stones.

Speaking to the media after the game, Guardiola admitted that while he has not consulted with the club doctors, he believes it is only a knock, and the midfielder could be back in time for the next game.

“I didn’t speak with the doctors. I think it was a knock. Liam Delap, we know from here, is so aggressive with that,” the boss said.

“We have six, seven days until the next game, and we will see if he can recover.”

Manchester City’s final game before the September international break comes next Saturday against West Ham at the London Stadium.