Man City injury news - four players withdraw from international duty ahead of Liverpool clash

Matheus Nunes has become the fourth Manchester City player to pull out of international duty during the current break, as the club’s injury crisis deepens.

The midfielder had been named in the Portugal squad for upcoming matches against Liechtenstein and Iceland, but in a statement released on Wednesday, it was announced Nunes had been forced to drop out of the team.

“The midfielder is unfit for Portugal's two games,” read the official statement. “Matheus Nunes was declared clinically unfit for the National Team's two games against Liechtenstein and Iceland, after undergoing tests. The player will no longer travel to Zurich with the rest of the national delegation.”

Nunes, who has played 12 times since his summer transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers, joins an increasing list of City absentees. The Premier League champions have also seen Nathan Ake, Mateo Kovacic and Ederson pull out of their respective international squads over the last week.

Ake picked up a knock at the end of last week and was forced to sit out Sunday’s 4-4 draw at Chelsea. The centre-back also withdrew from the Netherlands squad as a result.

As for Ederson, he sustained a foot injury at Stamford Bridge, which resulted in ‘intense’ pain, according to Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar. “The foot became swollen, difficult to walk,” he said. 

“At first, we postponed the presentation to take exams. After the exams, and also due to the short time, the issue of displacement, he would not be available at the first moment.”

As for Kovacic, he did not meet up with Croatia for the crucial Euro 2024 qualifiers against Latvia and Armenia. "Mateo Kovacic also felt a muscle last night [Sunday], so he will not come today. He is staying in Manchester for a check-up,” said manager Zlatko Dalic.

John Stones also picked up an injury last week, while Sergio Gomez is suffering from a knock and Kevin De Bruyne is a long-term absentee with a hamstring problem. It means have just 14 senior outfield players available at present, which includes Oscar Bobb and Kalvin Phillips, who are yet to start a league match this season.

The spate of injuries also comes at a worrying time, with City returning from the international break with a home fixture against second-place Liverpool. The Blues also face top-five sides in the subsequent two games, against Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.