- Man City are experiencing something of an injury crisis early in the season
- Manuel Akanji was ready to play through the pain at Spurs but could not start
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Manchester City are hoping for a double boost to ease a severe injury crisis that has left them with 11 fit senior outfield players.
Manuel Akanji and Savinho both suffered problems before and during the Carabao Cup defeat by Tottenham– taking Pep Guardiola’s list of absentees to eight before a week that will see them travel 3,400 miles.
Akanji was ready to play through the pain of a groin complaint and had been slated to start the fourth-round tie but was forced to withdraw during the warm-up.
The central defender wants to make himself available for Saturday’s tough Premier League trip to Bournemouth before City travel to Lisbon in the Champions League and then Brighton.
City have been scanning the nasty ankle injury sustained by Savinho in the second half at Tottenham, a knock that saw him carried off on a stretcher.
Pep Guardiola will be hoping for an injury boost ahead of a week in which his side will travel 3,400 miles
Summer signing Savinho was taken off on a stretcher after an ankle injury against Tottenham
Manuel Akanji had hoped to make himself available for the Spurs game but had to pull out in the warm up
The Brazilian believes it was an impact blow and will not force him into a lengthy period on the sidelines, although Bournemouth could come too soon.
Were Savinho to miss out, Guardiola would be without all four of his natural wingers – on top of Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker and Rodri.
De Bruyne has been training with the squad for two weeks but isn’t considered fit enough. Ruben Dias is carrying niggles, while Guardiola admitted that they cannot rest Rico Lewis.
‘The guys who are making an effort to be with us, fighting for us, playing with pain and living for us 24 hours a day – I will not forget them,’ the City boss said.
