'Out for a long time' - Pep Guardiola reveals major Man City injury blow

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola revealed that centre-back Nathan Ake will be "out for a long time" in yet another defensive injury blow for the beleaguered Spanish boss.

Ake only lasted the first 45 minutes of Manchester City's 3-1 FA Cup fifth-round victory over Plymouth Argyle on Saturday evening. Ruben Dias took the Dutchman's place alongside Vitor Reis, who was making only his second competitive start for the club. Both Portuguese speakers and fellow January arrival Abdukodir Khusanov will be heavily leaned upon in the weeks to come.

John Stones and Manuel Akanji have been ruled out for between eight to ten weeks, robbing Guardiola of two players who can not only play in the middle but also at right-back until late April or even May.

"Now again we have a central defender out for a long time, I think we'll miss Nathan," Guardiola sighed following his side's progress into the FA Cup quarter-finals.

"I'm so grateful to the club to bring Khusanov and Vitor otherwise we have no chance to qualify for the Champions League next season or fight for the FA Cup. Impossible! We would just have Dias."

City have been beset with injury setbacks throughout the current campaign. Rodri has been the most notable absentee, sidelined since September with a torn ACL. However, the talismanic defensive midfielder - who last lost a Premier League game in February 2023 - has returned to individual training.

It's unlikely that Rodri will be available before the end of the domestic season, but the ambitious 28-year-old is targeting some involvement in this summer's newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup.

Until then, Guardiola will have to navigate the next two months with only three centre-backs - two of which joined the club in January and have a combined age of 40.

READ THE LATEST MAN CITY NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP