How many games Omar Marmoush could miss through AFCON as Man City handed Erling Haaland issue

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Omar Marmoush could be a key player for Manchester City this season as they look to ease the burden on talisman Erling Haaland.

When the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off next month there will be a host of Premier League clubs set to be deprived of the services of some of their star men.

City are set to lose Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri, neither of whom you would select when naming City's strongest starting XI. So, they've nothing to worry about? Well, not quite.

With the AFCON set to run from 21 December to January 18, the competition covers the most hectic period in the Premier League schedule, and so any absence will be felt. And in the case of Marmoush, City will be losing the back-up to their most important player.

Erling Haaland has been in unstoppable form this season, with his 14 goals in 11 league games helping to propel City into the title race. Haaland has started every Premier League and Champions League game so far this season, with City's two Carabao Cup outings the only times he has been afforded a break.

City are back in Carabao Cup action next month as they host Brentford in the quarter-finals - just four days before the AFCON begins - and so it is hard to envisage Marmoush being available for the clash with the Bees.

With a potential Carabao Cup semi-final first leg to come in the week commencing January 12 along with an FA Cup third round tie the weekend prior, Pep Guardiola would perhaps have been eyeing an opportunity to shuffle his pack. Yet City could be without both Marmoush and Ait-Nouri for a considerable length of time should the pair go deep into the tournament.

As City look to protect Haaland as best they can, here's a look at the games one of his potential replacements could miss over the festive period.

Games Marmoush could miss:

Crystal Palace (A) - Premier League - December 14

Brentford (H) - Carabao Cup - December 17

West Ham (H) - Premier League - December 20

Nottm Forest (A) - Premier League - December 27

Sunderland (A) - Premier League - January 1

Chelsea (H) - Premier League - January 4

Brighton (H) - Premier League - January 7

FA Cup third round (H/A) - FA Cup - W/E January 10

Carabao Cup semi-final (H/A) - Carabao Cup - W/C January 12

Manchester United (A) - Premier League - W/E January 17