Manchester City suffer triple fitness blow as star suffers ankle ligament injury

Pep Guardiola has been dealt a fresh fitness blow as three Manchester City players suffer concerning injuries.

Manchester City took a major step towards qualifying for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League with a 3-1 first-leg win over FC Copenhagen in Denmark on Tuesday evening.

Goals from both Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden towards the end of the first-half and second-half secured a two-goal advantage for Pep Guardiola’s side, after Kevin De Bruyne’s opening goal was cancelled out by Magnus Mattsson.

Croatian duo Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic were both absent from the Manchester City squad that travelled to the Danish capital in midweek, meanwhile both Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva suffered injuries at the Parken Stadium.

City face Chelsea and Brentford in crucial upcoming Premier League games at the Etihad Stadium in the next week, with the Sky Blues able to take control of the title race with wins in both matches.

Guardiola could be without a key trio for those fixtures however, with concerning injuries to Gvardiol, Grealish and Silva.

Grealish and Silva were both forced off after suffering injuries against FC Copenhagen on Tuesday night, as Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes replaced the attacking duo.

Silva was withdrawn in the second-half due to an ankle problem, meanwhile Grealish suffered a suspected muscular injury in the first-half, as the Englishman made his first start since early January.

Gvardiol has also suffered an ankle ligament injury, Guardiola revealed post-match.

Speaking after the victory in Copenhagen, Guardiola said: “Josko will be out two weeks, three weeks, he has an ankle ligament injury.

Providing an update on Grealish, the Manchester City manager said: “I didn’t speak with the doctor but it looks muscular. A pity, in the last days his attitude in training was much, much better. He helps us find the right tempo.”

Discussing Silva’s injury concern, Guardiola said that the Portugal midfielder sustained a “big knock in his ankle.”

In a consolation boost, Guardiola revealed that Mateo Kovacic could return to face his former club on Saturday evening at the Etihad Stadium.

Kovacic moved to City from Chelsea during the summer transfer window for an initial £25 million.