Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic is set to be out for up to a month with an injury, Pep Guardiola has confirmed.
The 30-year-old has started City’s last six Premier League games, deputising for the injured Rodri in central midfield.
He started both of Croatia’s Nations League fixtures over the recent international break but was substituted at half-time during his side’s 1-1 draw with Portugal on Monday.
Guardiola, who will remain City’s manager until the summer of 2027 after signing a two-year contract extension, confirmed that Kovacic is set for a spell on the sidelines.
Before City’s game against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, Guardiola said: “Kovacic is injured. He will be (out for) a while. Three weeks, one month.”
The Athletic exclusively reported on Tuesday that Guardiola had agreed fresh terms on a new deal to take him past 10 years service for the Premier League club, with his previous contract due to expire at the end of the current campaign.
The Spaniard provided a positive update on the defensive trio of John Stones, Manuel Akanji, and Nathan Ake, who have all been sidelined with injuries.
He said: “John (Stones) trained yesterday. Manu (Akanji) trained yesterday. Nathan (Ake) is coming back to training. We didn’t have central defenders but now we have three. Just Ruben (Dias) is out but hopefully, he is coming back soon.
“Some players have recovered a little bit. I don’t know if they are ready to play (for) 90 minutes or play from the beginning, but to see the training sessions and see their faces is really good. A boost for all of us.”
‘Kovacic absence leaves City in a hole’
Analysis by Manchester City correspondent Sam Lee
Given the overall theme of Pep Guardiola’s press conference was his new contract, it might be easy to overlook the significance of Kovacic’s injury but his absence really does leave City in a hole given their other absences.
Fortunately, they appear to have several of their defenders back, but given they were already trying to find ways to cover for Rodri, losing the guy who has been the automatic replacement — and in reality the best option for the holding midfield role — is a real blow, especially with games against Tottenham and Liverpool coming up in the next week or so, and then Aston Villa and Manchester United, among others, within the period that the Croatian could miss.
Ilkay Gundogan has not been in his best form since returning in the summer and could now be required to fill in in midfield while John Stones could be another option but he has had an injury-disrupted season so far and it might be a big ask.
It is likely that Guardiola will opt for a two-man holding midfield partnership, and if it is not Stones and Gundogan then it could well include Rico Lewis, who has been increasingly relied upon in midfield in recent weeks.
GO DEEPER
Guardiola is staying at Manchester City. Where else could he have gone, really?
(Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)
