Man City dealt huge injury blow as midfielder suffers fresh setback

Manchester City will be without Mateo Kovacic for some time after the midfielder suffered an ankle problem

Pep Guardiola said that Manchester City will wait on Mateo Kovacic 'for the last part of the season' with the midfielder sidelined again with an ankle injury.

Kovacic is yet to start for City this season after undergoing Achilles surgery in the summer. He missed the entire pre-season including the Club World Cup, and was sidelined until September when he returned to the matchday squad against Burnley.

Even then, his only minutes came off the bench against Everton and Villarreal and after 50 minutes of football he has now dropped out of the squad again. Guardiola was not sure on Friday that the player would be fit for the weekend and confirmed after the game that he will now be out for some time.

"He will be out for a while," said the City boss. "He still has a problem with the ankle, a little calcification still there. We'll wait on him for the last part of the season."

Guardiola played down the idea that Kovacic would be out until the final months of the campaign, but reiterated that he will be missing for 'a while'. The Croatian's absence will increase the pressure on Nico Gonzalez and Rodri to stay fit and in form in the key position of holding midfield if City are to maintain their momentum.

A 3-1 win over Bournemouth lifted the Blues above the Cherries into second in the Premier League table, and they have reduced the gap to leaders Arsenal back to six points after the Gunners won at Burnley on Saturday.

"One week ago we were not [in the title race], in Villa Park," started Guardiola. "I said from the beginning I like the team. I give credit to the opponents, they play minute one to 95 in the same rhythm.

"If you are not clever, we lost easy or sloppy balls and nobody can stop them in transitions. [Antoine] Semenyo and [David] Brooks are top class players, but we managed to bring them to a place where they feel uncomfortable and the quality of the players we have between the lines, especially Erling [Haaland], made the difference.

"Hopefully Arsenal can concede one goal one day. I had the feeling since the Club World Cup that we were in that moment. It's just 10 games, still 28 to play, many things are going to happen and feel that the team is getting better and better."

City host Liverpool next Sunday in their last Premier League fixture before the November international break.

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