EPL: Ilkay Gundogan adds to Man City injury list

Manchester City injury problems are mounting ahead of a crucial week of big matches with the news that Ilkay Gundogan is the latest player needing treatment.

City boss, Pep Guardiola hinted the Germany midfielder was nursing a problem following Saturday’s goalless draw with Southampton.

Guardiola was already without John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Rodri and Oleksandr Zinchenko against Saints.

City face a tough run of away games with Chelsea, Sept.25, Paris St Germain, Sept. 28 and Liverpool FC Oct. 3 all coming within a nine-day period.

Guardiola insists his injury list is so bad that he has no choice but to play several of his youngsters when the club begin the defence of their trophy against the third-tier side.

“I don’t have another alternative,” said the Spaniard. “We are going to play a few young players. Some first-team players but some players must rest for the three games we have ahead of us.

“A few players from the academy are going to play because we have John, Ayme (Laporte), Aleks (Zinchenko), Rodri, I think Gundogan, all of them injured.

“We will see because we don’t have four or five days to prepare and to make a good selection but it is an opportunity for the academy – that’s why they are there.

“Now we are going to play the Carabao Cup. We are going to see how many people recover for the next days because we are in difficult conditions right.

“But we will go there and to London and Paris and Liverpool to do good games.”

When news of injuries to Rodri and Zinchenko broke ahead of the Southampton game, Guardiola said he does not know how long either player will be out.

He said Stones and Laporte are already doubtful for the trip to Chelsea this weekend.

Guardiola also ruled out Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo, as they are the only players to have played every minute of every game so far this season.

Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Ferran Torres and Riyad Mahrez were all on the bench against Saints and could come into the team against Wycombe.

Academy youngsters, Luke Mbete, Joshua Wilson-Esbrand, Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, James McAtee and Sam Edozie are also set to come into contention for starting places.

Meanwhile, Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara will miss at least the next two matches with a calf problem sustained against Crystal Palace at the weekend.

It is unlikely the Spain international would have featured in the League Cup tie at Norwich on Tuesday but he will also miss the Premier League trip to Brentford on Saturday.

“I can’t say now how long it will take but definitely not tomorrow and not at the weekend,” said assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders.