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Manchester City will be without Rayan Cherki for the next two months after an injury he picked up before the Brighton game.
Rayan Cherki is set to miss two months of the season with a thigh injury sustained in the last week. The summer signing could miss ten matches as Manchester City look to turn their campaign around.
All the positives from a thumping 4-0 win over Wolves on the opening day have quickly been forgotten after a 2-0 home defeat to Spurs and a 2-1 defeat on the road at Brighton. City controlled the opening hour of the match at the Amex Stadium and took the lead, but fell apart in alarming fashion after a quadruple change from the home team.
Pep Guardiola is convinced that his team will click as the new signings settle in and the rest of the squad return to previous levels, but they are not being helped by the unavailability of various players. Phil Foden has started none of the first three games and was missing from the squad completely against Brighton, Savinho hasn't featured in any and Ederson has been on the bench for the last two games amid transfer interest from Galatasaray.
City's manager expects to return to a calmer situation after the international break, especially given the transfer window will have closed. However, he will not be able to call on Cherki for two months.
"We changed a lot this season, last season. We have a base that is still very good and the new players are really good too," said Guardiola.
"It's a question of clicking and finding our momentum to start winning games and that is going to happen."
Abdukodir Khusanov was taken off with a knock in the defeat, replaced by Ruben Dias for the final minutes. Guardiola does not expect his centre-back to be miss any games with the issue.
Foden should also return after the international break and City hope that Savinho will as well. Doubts remain over Ederson, Stefan Ortega, Manu Akanji and Ilkay Gundogan going into the final day of the transfer window.
Gianluigi Donnarumma could sign for City on Monday if a deal can be completed in time, but that will only happen if Ederson first seals a move away amid interest from Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.
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