Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku has shared a picture of himself working in the gym as he looks to regain fitness.
The forward had sustained a thigh injury and he was forced to pull out of Belgium’s squad for their Nations League fixtures against Italy and Israel.
Supporters on X were somewhat surprised to see Doku back so quickly:
he’s got a harmstring?
— PepBall (@PepBall3) November 14, 2024
Best wishes
— URCR7 (@URCR07) November 14, 2024
We need you back Jeremy Doku
— SIMCH🇭🇷 (@CITY_G10) November 14, 2024
can’t wait to see him back on the pitch⚽️
— Neba Mccall (@NebaMccall) November 14, 2024
My Doks Man 🩵
— Nwanneka Omeche 4PEAT🏆🏆🏆🏆 (@nwanneka_omeche) November 14, 2024
#PrayforSpurs👨🏿🍳🥶
— TxikiOut, PepOut (@LocalMobOut) November 14, 2024
Guardiola has explained Doku’s fitness situation
Following the defeat to Brighton at the weekend, manager Pep Guardiola gave an explanation for Doku’s absence:
“[He] has some muscular problems in the quadriceps. He doesn’t feel good, he CAN’T run at full speed!”
From the sound of things, it seems as though Doku may be doing some light work in the gym to recover full movement. Whether that means he will return to training soon, it isn’t known.
City have 9 other players on the sidelines
In addition to Doku, the likes of Nathan Ake (hamstring), Ruben Dias (muscular), John Stones (foot), Matheus Nunes (knock), Manuel Akanji (adductor), Jack Grealish (unspecified), Oscar Bobb (leg fracture) and Rodri (ACL) are also unavailable.
There are also concerns about Phil Foden’s fitness after he was forced to withdraw from the England squad, along with Grealish.
City have three games against Tottenham, Feyenoord and Liverpool in the space of a week after the international break so fans will be hoping at least some of these players will be available for those fixtures.
Find out who is in Manchester City’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here