Pep Guardiola’s injury update on Man City’s Kyle Walker amid England World Cup concern

Pep Guardiola has revealed Kyle Walker is set to miss the next few weeks with an abdominal injury, one which has raised major doubts about the Manchester City defender’s availability for the World Cup.

The 32-year-old was replaced in Sunday’s Manchester derby as the Blues beat Manchester United 6-3, and the problem also forced him to sit out the midweek Champions League victory over Copenhagen.

He will also miss Saturday’s clash with Southampton and Guardiola has admitted he is unsure how soon the former Tottenham Hotspur right-back will return to action.

“It will be for a while, yeah. I don’t know exactly, but weeks,” the City manager said following Wednesday’s Champions League win.

“[It’s] something abdominal,” he continued. “It will be a while he will be out. I don’t know how long he will be out. Maybe the club will make a statement in the next days.”

Asked about Walker’s chances of making the World Cup, Guardiola responded: “I don’t know. Kyle will be out and will be assessed. Hopefully they can get it like Kalvin [Phillips’ injury]. I know how important the World Cup is for the players.”

The issue also leaves City light on options in defence, with the Premier League champions left with just Joao Cancelo and Sergio Gomez as senior, fit full-backs.

However, Guardiola evidently has faith in youngster Rico Lewis to step up, and he was handed a Champions League debut in the second half against Copenhagen.

“We need everyone involved,” explained the former Barcelona manager. “Rico played, 17 years ago, with the problems we have right now.

“I know Kyle Walker will be out for a while. We don’t have many options in the position, right-back, and Rico showed me again that we can rely on him.”

While Walker’s injury is a real blow, the return of Aymeric Laporte on Wednesday provided some welcome news for City.

The centre-back started his first game of the season as he continues his recuperation from a knee operation in the summer.

Asked about Laporte’s return, Guardiola said: “Really good. It is good news for us because he is an important player. He played a good 90 minutes after a long time.”