Manchester City star to miss next three matches due to injury confirms Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has confirmed the extent of Abdukodir Khusanov’s injury sustained during the 1-1 draw away to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

The setback comes at a frustrating time for Manchester City, who have already been managing concerns in various positions around squad availability during the opening weeks of the new season.

Guardiola has leaned on defensive depth in recent fixtures, with John Stones continuing to be carefully managed after injuries, and Nico O’Reilly stepping back into the left-sided full-back role following an ankle problem with Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Abdukodir Khusanov’s absence will therefore be felt more heavily than just in the immediate matches ahead, with the 21-year-old Uzbekistan international having grown into a reliable option across the backline, earning praise for his composure and versatility since his arrival.

His early adaptation to Guardiola’s tactical set-up had provided the squad with welcome stability, particularly during a summer of uncertainty over defensive exits. Supporters had also viewed Khusanov’s progression as a positive sign for the club’s long-term defensive planning.

The timing of the injury is also significant given Manchester City’s busy fixture schedule across multiple competitions, with Guardiola’s men facing the usual autumn congestion with the Carabao Cup providing valuable opportunities for rotation, the Premier League demanding consistent results, and the UEFA Champions League throwing up difficult ties.

Speaking during his latest round of press conference duties with national media, Guardiola has confirmed the severity of the injury sustained by Abdukodir Khusanov against Arsenal, forcing the Uzbek defender off the pitch during the half-time interval.

“Yeah, [he] will be out [for the] next three games, yeah,” Guardiola responded to questions on the 21-year-old.

As such, Khusanov will now miss matches across three different competitions in the Carabao Cup third round tie away to Huddersfield Town, the Premier League clash at home to Burnley, and an away trip in the UEFA Champions League against AS Monaco.

With Manchester City already confirming that young players will feature in the Carabao Cup tie at Huddersfield, the injury to Khusanov could open the door for one of the club’s prospects to earn valuable minutes.

It may also increase the responsibility on Stephen Mfuni, who is expected to be eased into senior action having made the step up from Academy level into the club’s first-team system on a regular basis.

Ultimately, while Khusanov’s absence is short-term, it serves as another reminder of the fine margins within Manchester City’s season, and that any further injuries in central defence could force Guardiola into tactical adjustments or even accelerate plans for reinforcements.