Man City injury update: Rayan Ait-Nouri, Josko Gvardiol and Savinho latest news and return dates

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Evening Standard

·25 August 2025

Man City injury update: Rayan Ait-Nouri, Josko Gvardiol and Savinho latest news and return dates

Pep Guardiola has been handed a fresh injury in defence

Manchester City suffered a double blow as they were dealt a 2-0 defeat by Tottenham over the weekend.

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Pep Guardiola’s side were stunned by goals from Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha as Thomas Frank’s visitors stole all three points from the Etihad Stadium.

They also lost a key player in the first half.

City were looking to follow up their 4-0 win over Wolves in style as they returned to play in front of their own fans for the first time this term, but Frank’s side executed the Dane’s masterplan to perfection.

They travel to Brighton next weekend as they look to get back to winning ways at the Amex.

Will any players currently on City’s injury list return this weekend? Here’s what we know...

Rayan Ait-Nouri

City’s new left-back was taken off injured in the first half of the Spurs defeat, replaced by Nathan Ake.

He was treated for what seemed to be a knee injury, although Guardiola was vague on the Algerian when asked about him post-match.

“I don't know, I didn't speak with the doctors yet,” he said of the full-back.

Potential return date: Manchester United (h) on Sunday, September 14, 2025

Josko Gvardiol

Another key figure missing for City was Gvardiol, their £100million man from RB Leipzig.

The Croat did not make the matchday squad against Spurs, with Guardiola revealing that he was “not ready” to be included as he recovers from an unknown niggle.

Potential return date: Brighton (a) on Sunday, August 31, 2025

Savinho

The Brazilian winger was revealed to have picked up an injury against Palermo in pre-season, and was subsequently ruled out by Guardiola for “a few weeks”.

He may return before the end of August, in which case the trip to Brighton could mark the 21-year-old’s first league appearance of the campaign, but Savinho might also remain out until after the September international break, when City host a Manchester derby.

All that assumes he’s still a City player past transfer deadline day, of course, with this weekend’s opponents Spurs understood to be pursuing a deal despite Guardiola’s wishes that Savinho remains at the Etihad for “many, many years”.

Injured: Savinho

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Mateo Kovacic

The Croatian missed the Club World Cup campaign entirely after having surgery on an Achilles problem.

He’s likely to be a longer-term absentee than the others, with Guardiola saying this ahead of the start of the season: “We have three [defensive midfielders], I would say, with Kova injured until September or October - hopefully earlier.”