Manchester City in troubling injury blow after September international break

As many Manchester City fans had expected, and plenty would have wanted it to happen, it turned into a very busy summer for the Etihad Stadium outfit as Pep Guardiola oversaw a widespread rebuild and reshaping of his first-team options.

City were quick out of the blocks with transfer dealings as well-known, talented stars moved on such as club legend Kevin de Bruyne, and replacements were quickly lined up in readiness to start settling in for the summer’s FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

The club’s business continued right down to deadline day with superstar goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma arriving, and Ilkay Gundogan and Ederson moving on in permanent arrangements. But after three games into the new Premier League season, the new-look side are yet to find a real understanding of one another, and still have not clicked yet.

With one win and two defeats, it is not the start anyone would have wanted, but many would accept it was going to be a year of transition with so many changes to the squad. Whilst there have been disappointments and clear frustrations, there is certainly no need to panic with a long time left in the season for the team to play catch up.

Similar to those that bet on football, or those who enjoy online gaming and use paysafecard casinos for extra protections, they never allow themselves to get to up or down depending on the outcomes that come their way.

With the September international break coming to a close and real football returning on Sunday afternoon as City welcome rivals, and even greater strugglers, Manchester United to the Etihad Stadium, Pep Guardiola has been dealt another blow in his preparations.

The attacking unit has succumbed to an injury blow concerning Egyptian international forward Omar Marmoush, after the 26 year old suffered a knee injury whilst representing his country over the course of the last fortnight.

Having joined Manchester City from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported £59 million during the last January window, Tuesday night saw Marmoush only last nine minutes against Burkina Faso having been on the end of an early robust challenge in the fourth minute.

Naturally, Marmoush will shortly return to the club for further assessment and begin his rehabilitation period, but initial scans have confirmed he would miss this weekend’s encounter as fans await to see if there is more significant damage that would require a longer spell out.

Marmoush was pretty impressive in his first six months at the club as he adjusted to the English game and Pep Guardiola’s particular wants as a tactician, and in 25 appearances he returned an impressive eight goals across all competitions.

He has featured heavily in City’s three games so far this season as well, and supporters simply have to hope that given he was able to play on for a number of minutes before they replaced him, and whilst it was a heavy challenge, it is just more significant bruising rather than anything more serious.

The timing of the injury, even if the 39-capped star is only out for a game or two, does not come at the greatest of times for Pep Guardiola as the Catalan goes in search of more consistency and back-to-back wins.

Attacking options have already been limited this season as summer signing Rayan Cherki has been ruled out with a hamstring problem, and England midfielder Phil Foden missed the loss to Brighton and Hove Albion with an issue of his own ahead of the international break.

Sunday afternoon kicks off a big month as a new Manchester City look to make their mark in the 2025/26 campaign and supporters will have to see where the club is by the time October rolls in.