Manchester City issued major injury blow ahead of Premier League opener against Burnley

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have reportedly been struck with a major injury blow in their defensive unit ahead of their trip to Burnley on Friday night.

That problem concerns Ruben Dias, who has become the first major injury problem for Manchester City in the new season, just hours after rumours had circulated across social media about a potential problem concerning Mateo Kovacic.

While there had been suggestions that the Croatian midfielder was stretchered out of training on Wednesday, it was swiftly denied and Kovacic is expected to be a part of Pep Guardiola’s squad on Friday night.

However, new details emerging on social media may now be pointing towards a case of mistaken identity, with Ruben Dias’ problem understood to be taken seriously by medical staff present at the training ground.

According to the information of FPL Maine Road on X (formerly Twitter), Ruben Dias will not be a part of Manchester City’s travelling squad to face Burnley on the opening weekend of the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola and his players are face the challenge of Vincent Kompany’s newly-promoted Burnley on matchday one this week, in a contest that almost certainly should not be written off as a formality.

In more positive news, Josko Gvardiol is reportedly set to make the Manchester City matchday squad list for the first time since joining from RB Leipzig in a £78 million deal, with Dias’ injury opening the door for a potential competitive debut for the club.

Further details from FPL Maine Road also highlight that Ruben Dias may be absent due to the Premier League’s concussion protocol, in a detail responding to another X user who suggested that the Portugal international had sustained a head injury in training.

Thankfully, the problem has been described as not being serious, in a significant boost for Manchester City in their hectic opening month of the new season which also includes a UEFA Super Cup final against Sevilla on Wednesday night.

Nathan Ake has returned to full Manchester City training this week, having been ruled out of last weekend’s FA Community Shield defeat to Arsenal through a lack of match fitness.

The Dutchman may immediately be called upon on Friday night, as Pep Guardiola looks to configure his successful defensive rearguard for the first time in the Premier League this season. The possibility of either Ake or Gvardiol appearing at left-back is certainly active.