Man City injury updates ahead of Champions League trip to Sporting CP
- Pep Guardiola claimed he only had 13 players available for Saturday's game
- Man City's injury woes not as bad as believed but still fell to 2-1 Bournemouth defeat
- Kevin De Bruyne returned to the matchday squad
These trips down to Bournemouth are not for the faint-hearted. For the first time ever, Manchester City succumbed to the Cherries at the weekend and Pep Guardiola cannot point towards a supposed injury crisis for mitigation.
City are still without key names and the manager was unable to fully integrate a couple of returning stars on Saturday, including Kevin De Bruyne, but it would be a disservice to Andoni Iraola's side to merely focus on those the Cityzens were without.
The perennial champions' injury woes weren't as bad as they appeared heading into the game, with City having a few more than the 13 players Guardiola suspected would be available pre-match.
However, there are fresh concerns on the fitness front and their schedule is unrelenting before the November break. Here are the latest Manchester City injury updates as they prepare to face Ruben Amorim's Sporting CP.
John Stones
- Injury: Foot
- Potential return: Tottenham (H) - 23/11/24
City supporters have gotten used to life without John Stones for the past 12 months, with the England international struggling to string together a consistent run of games in the starting XI.
Stones captained the Cityzens to defeat in the Carabao Cup at Tottenham last Wednesday and was subsequently unavailable on Saturday.
The central defender is dealing with a foot injury and Guardiola is unsure as to whether he'll feature before the international break: "John - I don't know if he'll be back for the next two games," the Spaniard said.
Ruben Dias
- Injury: Muscle
- Potential return: Tottenham (H) - 23/11/24
While Kyle Walker and Manuel Akanji both returned to the starting XI at the Vitality, Ruben Dias joined Stones on the sidelines.
The defender's half-time withdrawal initially wasn't thought to have been enforced by injury, but the Portuguese centre-back picked up a muscle problem in N17 and was absent on Saturday as a result.
Guardiola has already confirmed Dias will be out until after the international break.
Jack Grealish
- Injury: Unspecified
- Potential return: Tottenham (H) - 23/11/24
Like Stones, Jack Grealish has been no stranger to the treatment table in recent times and there's plenty of ambiguity surrounding his latest setback.
No information has been provided on the type of injury that has kept Grealish out of City's last four games. What we do know is that the winger sustained the issue in training ahead of the Cityzens' Champions League clash with Sparta Prague on 23 October.
The Englishman is also expected to be out until after the November break.
Oscar Bobb
- Injury: Leg
- Potential return: January 2025
After showing glimmers last season, Oscar Bobb starred in pre-season and was bound to enjoy a breakthrough season in Manchester.
However, the young Norwegian was dealt a cruel injury blow at the end of the summer. Bobb suffered a leg fracture in August and is not yet close to making a comeback.
He should be back in action at the start of 2025.
Rodri
- Injury: Knee
- Potential return: Summer 2025
The Ballon d'Or victor is not going to have a shot at defending his crown next year due to the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered during Man City's 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September.
Rodri's absence has been keenly felt at the base of City's midfield and Guardiola's side will have to endure the rest of the 2024/25 campaign without him.
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