Manchester City's form may be turning a corner but their injury issues show no sign of improvement as Nathan Ake is the latest player to face a 'long' spell on the sidelines.
City have had their four central defenders - Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, John Stones and Nathan Ake - available at the same time for just one game all season. And that clash against Real Madrid saw Akanji withdrawn at half-time with an injury that required surgery and will keep him out for 'two to three months'.
Stones has followed him with a thigh injury, although he did not require surgery and now Ake is injured after limping off against Plymouth in the FA Cup.
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Ake started alongside youngster Vitor Reis but fell awkwardly towards the end of the first half challenging for a corner, and was heavily limping for the final moments of the opening period. Ruben Dias warmed up immediately and Ake did not emerge after the break.
Confirming the injury blow, Pep Guardiola said: "Now again we have a central defender out for a long time, I think we'll miss Nathan.
"I'm so grateful and thankful to the club to bring [Abdukodir] Khusanov and Vitor [Reis] otherwise we have no chance to qualify for the Champions League next season or fight for the FA Cup. Impossible! We would just have Ruben. It's a miracle they are here to help us. It happens all season for the problems we have.”
City have Oscar Bobb back in training but he was not in the squad against Plymouth, while Rodri has stepped up his recovery and wants to return before the end of the season.
