Manchester City striker supremo Sergio Aguero could potentially be out of commission for some time. The 31-year-old centre forward hobbled out of City’s 2-1 win over Chelsea yesterday in the 78′ and it seems near certain that Gabriel Jesus will replace him Tuesday night when City hosts Shakhtar Donetsk in UEFA Champions League group stage action.
“Hopefully we’ll know tomorrow [Sunday], but the first indication is not good,” City manager Pep Guardiola said of the striker’s condition. Some early reports have claimed that Aguero will be out for several weeks.
Elsewhere, midfielders Rodri and David Silva also exited the weekend domestic fixture early, with their issues explained as being due to “cramps and tiredness.”
You probably won’t see them in this one, but it sounds like their absences won’t last very long. For long term absentees you have Aymeric Laporte, Leroy Sane and Oleksandr Zinchenko; none of which will return here.
Meanwhile backup goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is suspended for this affair. Likewise for Shakhtar attacking player Marlos, the key absentee for the visitors.
Manchester City vs Shakhtar Donetsk (UCL) FYIs
Kickoff: Nov. 26, 8pm City of Manchester Stadium
Manchester City starting XI prediction: go to this link
Pep Guardiola and Player TBC press conference video, quotes: coming tomorrow
Google result probability: 81% Manchester City win, 13% draw, 6% Shakhtar Donetsk victory
Form Guide: Man City DWWW Shakhtar Donetsk DDWL
Prediction: Manchester City 4, Shakhtar Donetsk 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
You can follow Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com on Twitter here and his cat on Instagram at this link.