Pep Guardiola confirms extent of Mateo Kovacic’s injury after enforced Ipswich Town substitution

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has detailed the extent of Mateo Kovacic’s suspected injury.

The 30-year-old started successive Premier League matches for Manchester City, having netted during a 0-2 win over his former club Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend of the season.

Kovacic is beginning his second campaign at the Etihad Stadium, with the experienced midfielder featuring in a deeper role for the Sky Blues, amid the absence of Rodri due to a hamstring injury suffered during the European Championship final.

Manchester City continued their winning start to the new season against newly-promoted Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, coming from behind to beat Kieran McKenna’s side 4-1, as Erling Haaland scored his 10th hat-trick.

The Norwegian cancelled out Sammie Szmodics shock opener from the penalty spot, prior to Guardiola’s side racing into a 3-1 lead, as Haaland netted again and De Bruyne opened his goalscoring account for the campaign.

The 24-year-old sealed his seventh Premier League hat-trick in the second-half, with the fixture also providing a home debut for summer signing Savinho and an Etihad return for Ilkay Gundogan.

Manchester City were without both Rodri and Phil Foden for the win, and are facing fresh injury fears surrounding Kovacic, after the Croatian was withdrawn during the second-half having received treatment on-field.

Discussing the midfielder’s injury post-match, Guardiola said: “I didn’t speak with the doctors, to be honest. I think it was a knock.

“Liam Delap, we know because he was here, is so aggressive with that, and unfortunately. Hopefully, we have six days, seven days until the next game. So hopefully he can recover.”

Manchester City travel to the London Stadium to face West Ham United next Saturday evening, with a clash against the Hammers being the Blues’ final match before the September international break.