Manchester City injury blow as Arsenal players return | OneFootball

Manchester City have suffered an injury setback ahead of the weekend, with Jeremy Doku ruled out for the next few weeks after picking up a problem in their 2-0 win over Galatasaray, just as the Gunners move closer to a clean bill of health.

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Arsenal head into the weekend with only 16-year-old Max Dowman still sidelined, a sharp contrast to the first half of the season when injuries piled up.

They have a four-point lead over Manchester City, with the Gunners travelling to Leeds United while City face Tottenham Hotspur on Super Sunday.

Speaking ahead of the weekend, City assistant coach Pep Lijnders, deputising for Pep Guardiola, who was unavailable for personal reasons, confirmed the extent of Doku’s injury.

“I have to say first of all to Jeremy, I have to make a big compliment how he played [against Galatasaray],” Lijnders said.

“Because a top team is defined by individual quality of our front players and how he was between the lines to attack and first assist to Erling was unbelievable.

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“Sorry he went out and its similar to last injury. Only that time it was lateral, this one is on the centre. It was 18 days. I think this time it will be a little bit shorter as he’s a robust player.”

Doku has three goals and11 assists this season for City, and that last injury kept him out for five matches. He only returned a month ago.

Lijnders also confirmed that Rúben Dias is set to return to training on Monday after being absent since the start of the new year.

City remain without Joško Gvardiol, Matteo Kovačić, John Stones and Sávio, although they are able to welcome Marc Guéhi and Antoine Semenyo back into the squad after the pair were ineligible for the final league match of the Champions League.

Oscar Bobb, who is out with a hamstring problem anyway, has now completed a £27m move to Fulham that also contains a 20% sell-on clause.

The contrasting injury situations underline Arsenal’s improved position as they approach a crucial stage of the season at the top of all the leagues, while their closest rivals contend with another disruption to their squad.

After Tottenham, City face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, before travelling to Anfield in the Premier League. To see out the next two weeks when they will likely be without Doku, they also welcome Fulham to the Etihad before Salford in the FA Cup on Valentine’s Day.