Manchester City have suffered a fresh injury blow with manager Pep Guardiola confirming that Portugal centre-back Ruben Dias is out for “three or four weeks” with a muscle injury.
Dias, who picked up the injury in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Manchester United, will miss the entire festive program and possibly the FA Cup third-round tie with Salford on January 11.
The 27-year-old also faces a battle to be fit for City’s crucial Champions League trip to Paris Saint-Germain on January 22.
Dias has already missed seven games this season with a hamstring injury, adding to a defensive injury list with John Stones, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji and Kyle Walker all out at various points. That Ballon d’Or winner Rhodri will be missed. The remainder of the home season after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury.
Guardiola said it was a muscle problem and he would be out for three to four weeks.
“He felt something after 75 minutes against United. But he is very strong and wants to stay on the pitch. Now he is injured.”
Guardiola confirmed that Stones, Akanji and midfielder Mateo Kovacic have trained this week and could feature at Aston Villa on Saturday (12:30 GMT), but said goalkeeper Ederson is “out with an unspecified problem”. Doubt”.
“Ederson is struggling with some niggles in his leg, he’s not feeling well,” Guardiola said. “Ederson is very important for us.”
Amid City’s current run of one win in 11 games, Guardiola’s use of youngsters James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly has been marveled at.
City made a point of keeping hold of both players despite a number of loan options. Yet McAtee has made just two substitute appearances – both coming in the last minute – while O’Reilly is yet to make his league debut.
But he looks set to stay at the club for the second half of the season, with Guardiola replying “I don’t think so” when asked if the player could leave during the January transfer window.
The Spaniard said he was “not a big fan” of buying players in January but it was “possible” City would want to sign someone because “the circumstances this season have been special”.