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Omar Marmoush could miss as many as 11 Manchester City games when he heads to the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt.
Erling Haaland could face a run of 11 games in 38 days in December and January as Manchester City ponder a month without back-up striker Omar Marmoush.
The Egyptian will head to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with his national team next month and his departure could come earlier than expected, with talks taking place between Egypt and City as to whether Marmoush can link up with the squad for a friendly with Nigeria in Cairo on Sunday, December 14.
City don't have to release Marmoush for that fixture and could play hardball, keeping the 26-year-old around so he can be part of the squad that travels to Crystal Palace on the same day, although he will only expect to be on the bench at Selhurst Park if Erling Haaland is fit.
AFCON officially begins on Sunday, December 21, with Egypt kicking off their campaign a day later, and they are among the favourites to win the competition, with the final taking place on Sunday, January 18.
There has been no official communication regarding when clubs must release players, although Egypt's friendly with Nigeria falls outside an official FIFA window, so City are under no obligation to let Marmoush go.
Even if they opt to keep him for the game at Crystal Palace, it is unlikely he will remain in Manchester for the Carabao Cup quarter-final with Brentford at the Etihad on Wednesday, December 17. That is a game he would certainly start but if he does, he will only link up with the Egypt squad three days before the tournament starts.
What is certain is that Marmoush - and Rayan Ait-Nouri, who will be with Algeria - will miss Premier League fixtures against West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland, as they clash with the group stage. The round of 16 would see him miss games against Chelsea and Brighton, and if Egypt reach the quarter-finals, he would be absent for the FA Cup third round.
A spot in the semi-finals would rule the forward out of a potential Carabao Cup semi-final first leg and that would lead to involvement on the final weekend of the tournament, in either the final or the third-place play-off, meaning Marmoush would miss the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
City then travel to Norway on Monday, January 19, to face Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League and that is likely to be too soon for Marmoush to be back in the squad, if he has made it to the final weekend of AFCON.
That potential run of 11 games in 38 days would leave Pep Guardiola without his high-class back-up to Haaland at the busiest time of the season. The Norwegian is already City's most-used player this season by more than 90 minutes and his workload could increase.
Guardiola would be reluctant to use him in the Carabao Cup quarter-final unless absolutely necessary and probably in the FA Cup third round if City are handed a favourable draw.
Without Marmoush, that might mean Phil Foden reprises his role as a false nine, something he has done during the November international break with England, or that Divine Mukasa is recalled to the senior squad.
Mukasa isn't a natural striker but played the role well in the Carabao Cup third round win at Huddersfield. The 18-year-old was back in an attacking midfield role against Swansea in the fourth round and has played there in the UEFA Youth League and Premier League 2 this season.
Another alternative would be to consider Mahamadou Sangare. The 18-year-old joined from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer and is yet to get a taste of action at senior level at the Etihad, but he is a natural striker and has nine goals in 14 games for age-group sides so far this term.
Whatever options Guardiola opts to go with, it seems clear that playing Haaland non-stop for a month in the busiest period in the calendar isn't going to be a solution.
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
Bodo/Glimt (A) - Champions League - January 20
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