Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is almost certain to miss the remainder of the season after it was confirmed he had sustained a cruciate knee ligament injury.
The Germany international limped off in the closing minutes of Wednesday’s 2 -0 win over Watford after a challenge with Nordin Amrabat and it was today confirmed that Gundogan had indeed suffered an injury that is likely to keep him out of action for at least six months.
His manager Pep Guardiola said: “It’s so, so difficult for him, it’s sad for him, we’re going to miss him a lot, it’s unlucky, but that’s football.
“Now we need him to feel we are there and wait and come back safe. He’s going to be operated (on) and be back as soon as possible.”
Gundogan, a £20million summer signing from Borussia Dortmund, had already established himself as a crucial component of Guardiola’s midfield and scored twice in an outstanding display during City’s 3-1 Champions League win over Barcelona.
However Gundogan has been beset by injury problems in recent years, arriving at City in the summer with a dislocated patella and also suffering back problems that ruled him between August 2013 and September 2014.
The loss of a key midfielder represents a sizeable blow to City’s title challenge and, in the more immediate future, only serves to reaffirm the selection headache facing Guardiola ahead of Arsenal’s visit on Sunday.
Key duo Fernandinho and Sergio Aguero are suspended whilst captain Vincent Kompany remains a long-term injury concern. Yaya Toure and Fernando are likely to be drafted into the midfield this weekend.
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