Man City injury news: Gabriel Jesus 'has surgery on foot'

Man City injury news: Joe Hart dilemma, but De Bruyne fit

5 April 2016

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has declared himself fit for Wednesday night's Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain.

Hart has been out with a calf problem since the Manchester derby on 20 March, but has "made good progress" and wants to play in the European clash, says the Daily Express.

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"It leaves [manager Manuel] Pellegrini with a decision to make on whether to recall Hart or stick with Willy Caballero, who deputised in the 4-0 win over Bournemouth at the weekend."

The keeper has also been struggling with a "niggling" knee injury, says the Daily Mail, and it is not yet clear if he will get the nod. If not, academy youngster Angus Gunn will be promoted to the bench.

However, Hart took full part in an open training session in Paris under the watchful eye of Pellegrini, notes the Daily Mirror.

Fabian Delph was also on the field, says the paper, but the "crocked trio" of Yaya Toure, Raheem Sterling and Vincent Kompany were missing.

"Toure has a knee problem, Sterling a groin injury and Kompany fresh calf trouble," adds the Mirror.

The good news for City is that Kevin de Bruyne emerged from his comeback game against Bournemouth unscathed and in fine form and will be a definite starter.

Man City injury news: Kevin De Bruyne returns, Joe Hart still out

01 April

It might be too late for a Premier League title push but Manchester City have been given a massive boost in their pursuit of Champions League football by the return of midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who could make his return to action against Bournemouth on Saturday.

The Belgian playmaker, who has 12 goals this season following a £55m deal from Wolfsburg last summer, has been out for two months with an ankle ligament problem, and his absence has "hurt City" says the Manchester Evening News. But the paper reports that he has been back in full training this week, alongside fellow long-term injury victims Samir Nasri and Fabian Delph, and "is excited about the prospect of featuring against the Cherries".

A return had been expected soon and the Belgian revealed that he was hoping to be in the squad for the trip to the South Coast during a Facebook Q&A, says the Manchester paper. It adds that Nasri, who has been out since October could also return. The game comes too soon for Delph, however, who could be back for the Champions League quarter final with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday next week.

But Willy Caballero will continue in goal for City on Saturday, with Joe Hart not yet fit after being stretchered off in the Manchester derby last month, reports the Manchester Evening News.

"It is hoped the England goalkeeper will be back from his calf injury for the Champions League quarter-final first-leg tie with Paris Saint Germain… after resuming gym-work this week," says the paper.

City captain Vincent Kompany and winger Raheem Sterling are both still out and are not expected back until the end of the month.

Man City injury news: England duo out for weeks but De Bruyne on track

21 March

Manchester City will be without goalkeeper Joe Hart and forward Raheem Sterling for around a month after both were injured during the Manchester derby on Sunday.

The pair have been ruled out of England's upcoming friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands and look likely to miss both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain next month. They could also be ruled out for as many as five of City's remaining eight Premier League matches.

Hart was stretchered off with a calf problem and Sterling suffered a groin strain after just 26 minutes in the dispiriting loss to local rivals Man United.

With Vincent Kompany also out until the end of April and Martin Demichelis looking out of his depth against United, City boss Manuel Pellegrini will be hoping that fellow defender Nicolas Otamendi, who missed the derby match with a dead leg but is hopeful of playing for Argentina during the international break, returns unscathed.

Otamendi has been using "compression boots" in a bid to regain fitness, reports the Daily Mail, but they did not work their magic in time for him to play last weekend and City fans will be concerned he is now hoping to play twice in South America over the next week before heading back to England.

Argentina face Chile on Thursday and Bolivia next Tuesday in World Cup qualifiers.

There is better news in midfield, as website Physio Room predicts midfielders Kevin de Bruyne, Fabian Delph and Samir Nasri will all be available after the international break.

The Manchester Evening News also believes De Bruyne will return to the team for City's next game against Bournemouth on 2 April.

Man City injury news: Vincent Kompany may never play for Blues again

17 March

Vincent Kompany's future as Manchester City skipper is in doubt after he was ruled out for at least a month after suffering yet another calf injury - the 14th of his career - this time against Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday night.

While Nicolas Otamendi, who also limped out of the Champions League tie at the Etihad, is hopeful of returning for Sunday's derby, Kompany and City are awaiting the results of a scan on the injury, which many fear could end his season - and possibly his career in Manchester.

If he does not return this season, then he may have played his last game for the club.

"Can new manager Pep Guardiola build his defence - a defence that desperately needs improving - around a man with such chronic injury problems?" asks David Mooney of ESPN. "Kompany is one of the most talented defenders in the game when he's on the pitch, but he's not on the pitch on a consistent basis these days."

City can no longer rely on Kompany, says James Robson of the Manchester Evening News. "Guardiola has no choice but to prepare for a future that doesn't include the Belgian," he writes. He cannot build a team on "fragile foundations".

Kompany "simply cannot be relied upon", he adds. "Guardiola's first job will be to find someone who can be."

Man City injury news: Kompany out but Otamendi set for derby

16 March

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany could miss the rest of the season with the calf injury he picked up against Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday. However his defensive partner, Nicolas Otamendi, who also limped out of the game, could be fit for the Manchester derby this weekend.

Kompany lasted only six minutes of the game before he suffered his fourth calf injury of what the Manchester Evening News calls a "miserable" season.

"Manuel Pellegrini confirmed he would be out for a minimum of a month - but based on his record this term, he could be looking at closer to seven weeks," says the paper.

That would see him return for City's penultimate league game, against Arsenal, but any setbacks would end his season prematurely.

The news on Otamendi is better, however. He followed Kompany to the treatment room with a dead leg but has revealed that he was taken off as a precaution.

The Daily Mirror reports: "The Argentina defender has eased City's defensive fears by claiming he should recover in time to face United, an encounter that could go a long way to deciding which of the Manchester clubs can clinch a top-four place."

Looking further ahead, City hope to welcome back absentees Kevin de Bruyne, Fabian Delph and Samir Nasri in time for their Champions League quarter-finals and the Premier League run in.

All three "could feature in under-21 games or friendlies during the international break later this month", reports ESPN. The return of De Bruyne would be particularly welcome for City, who have missed his creative spark since he damaged his knee in January.

Man City injury news: Kompany returns to boost title hunt

24 December

Manchester City, still smarting after defeat to Arsenal on Monday, have been handed a massive injury boost heading into the Christmas schedule, with skipper Vincent Kompany set to return to the side.

City, who are currently third in the table six points off the leaders, Leicester, face Sunderland on Boxing Day and then visit the Foxes on December 29 – a game that could have huge repercussions in the title race.

Manuel Pellegrini's side have been erratic at the back so far this term, but could have skipper Vincent Kompany back for the Sunderland game, which would give his side a huge fillip.

In the eight games City have played with Kompany in the team this season, they have kept seven clean sheets and conceded just one game. Without him they have conceded 18 goals in nine games with only one clean sheet.

Pellegrini is "hopeful" that Kompany will be fit for Boxing Day, says the Manchester Evening News. "And Pablo Zabaleta and Fernando could also feature, having trained with the squad this week."

With Kompany, and Fernando fit, City will be confident of beating the Foxes and keeping their title hopes alive.

However, Pellegrini has warned that Sergio Aguero is not yet 100 per cent fit and may not be able to play 90 minutes against Sunderland.

"Maybe for three or four games he won't play 90 minutes as he's coming back from injury but he needs to play," warned the manager, reports International Business Times.

Man City injury news: Joe Hart joins Kompany on the sidelines

26 November

Joe Hart was forced off with a hamstring injury as Manchester City lost 1-0 to Juventus in the Champions League in a blow that adds to a growing injury crisis at the Etihad.

The 28-year-old England goalkeeper was substituted after 81 minutes of the game, shortly after making a fine stop to deny the Italian champions a second goal.

"[He] will undergo a scan on his return to England today to establish the extent of the injury, but it seems unlikely that he will be fit when Manuel Pellegrini's team bid to return to form against Southampton in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday," reports The Times.

The paper says that could leave City without seven first team regulars this weekend.

Captain Vincent Kompany will not be back for at least two weeks while David Silva, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony, Pablo Zabaleta and Eliaquim Mangala were all absent for the game in Turin.

City were still able to field a strong side against Juventus, but could not break down the Italian champions, among whom Paul Pogba was imperious.

As for City, they felt the absence of their skipper keenly, making his continued absence all the more worrying. "It has become a hoary chestnut because it is true: when Vincent Kompany is absent City can be disorganised and hapless at the back," says The Guardian.

The result in Italy leaves City highly unlikely to top their group and therefore facing the danger of another last 16 Champions League exit if they draw the likes of Barcelona once again.