Nathan Ake Hobbles Off With Hamstring Injury in Netherlands Game
By Ali Rampling
Manchester City defender Nathan Ake was forced off with injury inside six minutes during the Netherlands' international friendly with Spain on Wednesday evening.
The Netherlands were playing Spain in the Johan Cruijff ArenA in their first of three fixtures during November's international break
Ake started in the heart of the Netherlands backline alongside Joel Veltman, but pulled up with a suspected hamstring injury after just five minutes. The City centre back played an innocuous back pass to goalkeeper Marco Bizot, before clutching the back of his right leg.
He went to ground before hobbling off the pitch, and was replaced by former Manchester United man Daley Blind.
The Netherlands are scheduled to conclude their Nations League campaign with the visit of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday and a trip to Poland on Wednesday 18 November.
They are already short on central defensive options, with Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt currently sidelined.
Ake's early exit is also a blow to Manchester City, who have injury concerns of their own. Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho and Benjamin Mendy are all currently nursing injury problems - but are expected to be in contention to return after the international break.
City are back in action on Saturday 21 November when they travel to Tottenham.