Manchester City face a crucial Premier League showdown this Saturday as they travel to St. James’ Park to take on Newcastle United, hoping to maintain their impressive unbeaten run. While the team has largely dominated this season, with the exception of last weekend’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal, Pep Guardiola’s squad faces significant challenges, particularly in the absence of key players.
Erling Haaland continues to shine, boasting an incredible tally of 10 goals so far this season—an average of two per game. However, the looming absence of Rodri casts a shadow over City’s upcoming fixture.
City fans will have fond memories of their last trip to Newcastle, when Kevin De Bruyne’s stunning equalizer saved the day after City trailed for much of the match. De Bruyne later provided a pinpoint assist for Oscar Bobb’s injury-time winner, ensuring a dramatic 2-1 victory that fueled City’s march towards a fourth consecutive Premier League title.
Here’s the latest update on Manchester City’s injury situation ahead of Saturday’s game:
Rodri
In a devastating blow, City’s midfield maestro Rodri will be sidelined for the rest of the season following surgery. Pep Guardiola confirmed the news, saying: “He [Rodri] had surgery this morning – ACL and some meniscus. So, next season he will be here. This season is over [for him].”
Guardiola emphasized that replacing Rodri’s influence will be a collective effort, adding: “The others can all together replace what Rodri has given since his arrival to us. We will have to do it as a team and find a way to play a lot of matches without an important player for us.”
Discussions are expected to take place regarding a potential short-term solution in midfield.
Kevin De Bruyne
The Belgian playmaker’s return is still up in the air, as Guardiola shared earlier today: “I don’t know. Before maybe the (October) international break, or after international break. So we will see.”
Should De Bruyne remain sidelined, he is likely to miss key fixtures, including the Champions League clash with Slovan Bratislava and the Premier League encounter with Fulham on October 5.
Nathan Ake
Dutch defender Nathan Ake is also expected to be out until at least after the October international break. Guardiola lamented Ake’s misfortune with international duty, saying: “We are unlucky with Nathan in the international team, every time he goes there he comes back injured.”
Oscar Bobb
Youngster Oscar Bobb, who last featured in the FA Community Shield triumph over Manchester United, is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. He suffered a long-term injury during training, with his recovery projected to take around three to four months.
As City prepare for a tough battle against Newcastle, they’ll need to dig deep into their squad to overcome these absences and keep their title defense on track.
