Manchester Metropolis have been handed a serious blow because it has emerged that one member of their squad is about to overlook a minimum of seven video games via harm, together with the most important Premier League conflict with Arsenal later this month.

Manchester Metropolis chasing historical past below Pep

Manchester Metropolis are in search of an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title below Pep Guardiola, and have begun their hunt in excellent vogue, successful every of their opening three video games to take a seat high of the tree alongside Liverpool heading into the worldwide break.

However they’ve been rocked by information that may dampen the feel-good issue across the Etihad over the worldwide break.

Man Metropolis defender set to overlook a minimum of seven video games

Now, it has emerged that Manchester Metropolis defender Nathan Aké will miss a minimum of the membership’s subsequent seven video games, and will but be sidelined longer. The Dutch defender was injured throughout his nation’s 2-2 draw with Germany over the worldwide break, and needed to be stretchered off the pitch simply earlier than half time, leaving Metropolis followers fearing the worst.

Talking forward of his facet’s conflict with Brentford on the Etihad, Pep was requested for an replace on Ake, and revealed that he does not count on to have the defender at his disposal any time quickly.

“We’re unfortunate with Nathan and the worldwide crew; each time he goes there, he comes again injured,” the Cityzens boss defined. “He is injured. I feel it will likely be till the subsequent worldwide break.”

That subsequent break comes within the second week of October, however Manchester Metropolis have a packed fixture record till then, starting their Champions League marketing campaign in opposition to Inter Milan and likewise dealing with final season’s title challengers Arsenal on the Etihad.

Ake has been a key a part of the Manchester Metropolis squad since his arrival from Bournemouth, and penned a contract extension final summer season which bumped his wage to £160,000 per week to mirror his significance to Guardiola’s facet.

Although but to start out a sport this season, his versatility has been a key a part of Metropolis’s success, and Guardiola singled him out for top reward in 2023.

“He’s actually good within the duels within the field, defending the far put up and set items is an additional bonus. He’s an distinctive man, there was a interval the place he didn’t play and he by no means complained as soon as,” the Metropolis boss revealed.

Consequently, the membership will not be dashing him again, and should look to slowly reintegrate him as they’ve with Rodri after his return from EURO 2024 success, one thing that would see Aké absent for longer than the seven video games he’ll miss via harm.

Josko Gvardiol and Rico Lewis will doubtless share his duties till Ake returns, however it leaves Guardiola trying skinny on the bottom in defence throughout a interval during which video games might be coming thick and quick.