Rayan Ait-Nouri injury timeframe revealed in major blow to Manchester City | OneFootball

Manchester City have suffered a significant blow to their defensive options this week through the emergence of Rayan Ait-Nouri’s timeframe away from the pitch.

Pep Guardiola has already been grappling with mounting absences across his squad during the opening weeks of the brand new season, with the first international break of the campaign delivering damaging updates.

Omar Marmoush’s knee injury ruled him out of the Manchester derby and beyond, while John Stones’ withdrawal from England duty added further concern at the back. The fresh setback for Ait-Nouri only heightens the pressure on City’s squad depth as they prepare for a gruelling run.

Signed this summer from Wolves to bolster the left side of defence, Ait-Nouri has quickly adapted to Pep Guardiola’s set-up, while his exceptional abilities offensively had already made him a useful tactical weapon. Losing the Algerian for a prolonged period is therefore a major headache at a time when Pep Guardiola is seeking stability in defensive structures.

The timing could hardly be worse for Manchester City, who face an intense September and October calendar that includes UEFA Champions League clashes against Napoli and AS Monaco, as well as Premier League meetings with Manchester United and Arsenal.

Now, according to the information of journalist Fabrizio Romano, summer signings Rayan Ait-Nouri will be ruled out of action for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City for around five weeks due to an ankle injury.

The timeframe of five weeks would likely see Ait-Nouri return to Manchester City action after the October international break, meaning the following run of fixtures will have to be played without the big-money defender:

It seems likely Rayan Ait-Nouri’s ankle injury is an aggravation of the problem sustained against Tottenham in August, and despite being permitted a withdrawal from the Algeria international squad to aid recovery earlier this month, the move has done little to prevent a longer-term absence.

The blow comes just days after Manchester City confirmed Omar Marmoush’s absence through an official statement and Pep Guardiola himself outlined a recovery window of “a few weeks” for the Egyptian striker.

With both players sidelined, the Manchester derby is set to test City’s adaptability at both ends of the pitch. Looking further ahead, if Rayan Ait-Nouri’s recovery aligns with initial projections, he could be in contention to return for difficult cross-competition fixtures against the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Villarreal, Aston Villa and Liverpool.

In the meantime, Pep Guardiola’s reliance on versatility within his squad will once again be put to the test. Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Aké, and Nico O’Reilly may be tasked with plugging the defensive gap, while Rico Lewis – who recently signed a new long-term contract – could see expanded opportunities in hybrid roles.

For Manchester City supporters, the news marks yet another reminder of how quickly a squad can be stretched thin in the face of injuries. With Rayan Ait-Nouri’s setback now confirmed, attention turns to whether Pep Guardiola can juggle his resources effectively.