Man City rocked by injury blow as key defender ruled out for a month

Manchester City have been rocked by another injury blow with a key defender ruled out for a month.

The last thing under-fire City boss Pep Guardiola needed was a fresh injury concern as he looks to turn around the current crisis surrounding the club following a dismal run of performances and defeats.

And now defender Ruben Dias has been ruled out for up to four weeks. The muscular problem is understood to have been sustained in the latter stages of the derby defeat to Manchester United.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference prior to the trip to Aston Villa, Guardiola said: “After 75 minutes against United he felt something. He’s strong and wanted to stay on the pitch, but now he’s injured.”

He added: “Three or four weeks. Muscular, [he played] 75 minutes against United. He felt something but he is so strong and wanted to stay on the pitch.”

And in another blow, goalkeeper Ederson is a doubt for the trip to Villa (12.30pm KO Saturday). However, in brighter news, John Stones and Manuel Akanji are both back in contention for the Premier League clash.

Guardiola added: “Manuel and John are back in training. That is good for us. As many players that are back the better. I don’t know yet [if they can start against Aston Villa]. Yesterday was their first training session, I would say, properly. They have been out for a while.”