Man City injury latest: Jeremy Doku, Rodri and more | OneFootball

Man City injury update sharpens focus despite Palace win

Manchester City moved to within two points of Arsenal with a convincing 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, a result that carried the familiar authority of a title contender easing through its work. Yet even in victory, attention drifted quickly from the scoreboard to the absentees list. At Selhurst Park, Pep Guardiola’s squad depth was tested once again, with several key figures missing as the festive schedule looms into view.

City were without Jeremy Doku, John Stones and Rodri, absences that spoke less to short term inconvenience and more to the cumulative strain of another long season. Mateo Kovacic also remains sidelined, quietly extending a recovery that has already taken him deep into the winter. With a Carabao Cup tie against Brentford followed swiftly by a league meeting with West Ham, Guardiola’s injury update has taken on added importance.

Jeremy Doku facing enforced pause

Jeremy Doku’s omission from the matchday squad against Crystal Palace raised eyebrows, given his prominence earlier in the campaign. The winger has been a regular feature in Guardiola’s selections, offering directness and unpredictability, so his absence felt conspicuous.

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Guardiola confirmed before kick off that Doku was suffering from a leg injury, and the subsequent update suggested a longer spell on the sidelines. Speaking candidly, the City manager said: “Jeremy is out. Jeremy is out. Jeremy is out, John is out, Rodri is out. The rest, I think, will be ready [to face Brentford].”

Pressed on a timeframe, Guardiola added: “I don’t know (how long he will be out), two, three weeks. I don’t know, maybe. I think New Year’s, Sunderland, maybe. I’m not sure.” For City, it means adapting without one of their most explosive wide options as 2025 draws to a close.

Potential return date: January 2026

Rodri recovery remains delicate

Rodri’s absence continues to shape the rhythm of City’s midfield. Since sustaining a hamstring injury against Brentford in October, the Spaniard has managed just one minute of football, a brief cameo off the bench against Bournemouth in November. Since then, his recovery has been punctuated by setbacks.

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Guardiola offered a cautiously positive assessment ahead of the Palace game, noting that Rodri is “getting better” and looking “sharper and sharper”. Even so, he was not risked at Selhurst Park, underlining the care being taken with a player whose influence extends far beyond statistics.

Whether the Carabao Cup quarter final against Brentford arrives too soon remains unclear. A league return against West Ham appears more realistic, but City will weigh every decision carefully, mindful of the midfielder’s centrality to their structure.

Potential return date: Saturday, December 20 vs West Ham (H)

John Stones expected back soon

John Stones’ absence in South London was attributed to a thigh injury, another reminder of how fine the margins can be at this stage of the season. Unlike some of City’s longer term issues, this one is not expected to linger.

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Stones did not feature against Palace, but Guardiola may look to reintegrate him quickly, potentially as soon as the Brentford fixture. With rotation likely across competitions, the defender’s return would offer welcome flexibility as City balance domestic and European demands.

Potential return date: Wednesday, December 17 vs Brentford (H)

Mateo Kovacic still sidelined

Mateo Kovacic remains City’s longest standing absentee. The midfielder has not played since the Champions League meeting with Villarreal in October and has since undergone ankle surgery. His recovery has been gradual, with Guardiola revealing lingering complications.

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“He will be out for a while,” Guardiola said recently. “He still has a problem with the ankle, a little calcification still there. We’ll wait on him for the last part of the season.”

An Instagram post earlier in December showed Kovacic wearing a protective boot and using crutches, a visual reminder of the patience required. For City, his return feels distant, part of a later chapter rather than the immediate festive narrative.

Potential return date: Unknown

As City push forward on multiple fronts, this injury update offers a snapshot of controlled uncertainty. The results remain strong, the ambitions intact, but the path ahead will require careful management, and perhaps a little patience, as key pieces edge back into place.