Manchester City’s Rayan Ait-Nouri withdraws from Algeria call-up | OneFootball

Rayan Ait-Nouri will not be present for Algeria during the ongoing international break due to an injury concern and inadequate fitness.

The Manchester City left-back has endured a mixed start to life at the Etihad Stadium, with his minutes already being carefully managed by Pep Guardiola following a setback against Tottenham.

The 24-year-old was withdrawn during the 0-2 defeat to Thomas Frank’s side after suffering a knock, and while he was deemed fit enough to feature against Brighton on Sunday, his display was noticeably impacted by ongoing fitness issues.

City ultimately fell to a 2-1 loss at the Amex Stadium, with Ait-Nouri among those who struggled to maintain his usual intensity in the closing stages of the contest.

The Algerian international was expected to join up with his country for the international break, but concerns around his condition have now forced a rethink. Pep Guardiola, who has already seen Abdukodir Khusanov and other options sidelined, will likely view this as a chance to allow his new recruit additional recovery time.

The setback represents another frustrating blow for Manchester City at a stage in the season where defensive stability is being severely tested. With fixtures coming thick and fast in both the Premier League and Champions League after the break, the need for depth across the backline has never been more apparent.

Ait-Nouri, who was brought in to provide fresh energy on the left, has so far been unable to consistently demonstrate the attacking influence that marked him out as one of the standout full-backs in English football last season.

Now, according to the information of AlgerianFooty on X, Algeria have decided not to call-up Ait-Nouri to their national team set-up this month in order for the defender to make a full recovery from a recent injury.

In place of the new Etihad Stadium star, it is detailed that CR Belouizdad’s Naoufel Khacef has been selected for duty.

City will hope that Ait-Nouri’s absence from the international fold enables him to return at full fitness for the critical period ahead. Pep Guardiola has been forced to shuffle his defensive pack in the opening weeks of the season, leaning on alternative solutions and younger players.

Should his recovery progress as expected, Ait-Nouri could return to the squad after the break, giving Guardiola a much-needed boost. However, with the player still adjusting to the demands of City’s high-intensity approach, there may be some reluctance to overexert him in the immediate weeks.

For Algeria, the absence of Ait-Nouri will be a disappointment, but the long-term view is that a fully fit defender will benefit both club and country heading into the winter fixtures.