Man City injuries add to Pep Guardiola concerns after worrying updates

Manchester City could be facing a defensive injury crisis ahead of next weekend's derby fixture against Manchester United.

John Stones and Abdukodir Khusanov have both pulled out of international fixtures this week

If the echoes of last season weren't already ringing loudly around the Etihad this week, then the sight of Manchester City defenders dropping like flies will only add to the sense of foreboding.

It was a defensive injury crisis that helped derail City last season and only three games into this campaign, Pep Guardiola is already sweating over the fitness of most of his back four ahead of a crucial fixture.

City's defence was stretched for large periods of last season, with Jahmai Simpson-Pusey starting games at one point and senior defenders dragging themselves back into action when they weren't ready.

Guardiola will be desperate to avoid a similar scenario this year, especially as defeats to Tottenham and Brighton have handed his team a stuttering start to the season.

But with Manchester United the visitors to the Etihad next weekend, it is already impossible to predict how City's defence will be shaping up on derby day.

There was already a doubt over the fitness of Josko Gvardiol, who is yet to make a matchday squad this season, and the last week has brought more concerns.

It began with Abdukodir Khusanov, who was forced off against Brighton. Guardiola played down the extent of that issue at the Amex, but the 21-year-old was diagnosed with a calf injury and the Uzbekistan FA said he will miss two weeks, which would make him touch and go for the derby.

On Friday, it was confirmed that John Stones was leaving the England squad after reporting for duty with a minor muscle problem that he has struggled to shake off. That will be particularly concerning for Guardiola, given Stones' terrible luck with injuries last term.

City have insisted the 31-year-old's withdrawal was a precaution, but there will clearly be no risks taken with his fitness after what happened last season.

There are concerns not only at centre-back. Rico Lewis pulled out of England Under-21 duty, and Rayan Ait-Nouri didn't go away with Algeria.

Ait-Nouri did play the full game at Brighton after overcoming an ankle injury and should hopefully be fit to face United, but there are clearly issues elsewhere.

Guardiola will give an update on the fitness of his squad at his pre-United press conference next Friday, but as it stands, Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake look to be the only defenders without at least some doubt around them.

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