Manchester City issue statement on Omar Marmoush injury blow | OneFootball

Manchester City have confirmed the immediate-term impact of Omar Marmoush’s injury sustained against Burkina Faso for Egypt this week.

The forward’s knock had already caused concern after he was substituted inside the opening 10 minutes of Egypt’s aforementioned FIFA World Cup qualifying draw, before later being pictured on crutches as he returned to Cairo with his teammates.

Although early optimism suggested the issue may not be severe, the club have now delivered an official update that rules him out of one of their most important fixtures of the ongoing season.

Omar Marmoush’s setback adds to a growing list of problems that Pep Guardiola has faced over the course of the September international break. John Stones was forced to withdraw from England duty with a muscle complaint, alongside Nico O’Reilly and Rico Lewis’ exits from the Three Lions’ Under-21 set-up.

The situation further highlights the injury fragility Manchester City have had to endure in recent campaigns, particularly in attacking areas. Having joined City in January, Marmoush had made a positive start, bringing versatility to the frontline and offering Guardiola a flexible option across the front three.

His absence now leaves the manager with fewer alternatives as he prepares his side for a high-pressure Manchester derby meeting with Ruben Amorim’s United on Sunday afternoon – a contest that they will be hoping to bounce back from consecutive defeats immediately.

Now, a statement issued by the Etihad Stadium club on Wednesday afternoon read, “Manchester City FC can confirm that Omar Marmoush has sustained a knee injury whilst on international duty with Egypt.”

The statement continued, “The City striker suffered the injury in the early stages of Egypt’s World Cup qualifying match with Burkina Faso on Tuesday evening.

“Initial results on a scan performed in Egypt indicate he will not be available for the Manchester derby on Sunday, and he will now return to Manchester for more assessment and to begin his rehabilitation.

“Everyone at City wishes Omar a speedy recovery.”

The timing of the news is particularly frustrating for Pep Guardiola, with Marmoush’s ability to stretch defences and link play with Erling Haaland been seen as an important tactical option, especially given Jack Grealish’s exit and Jeremy Doku’s admission that he is still working towards peak performance.

Manchester City’s medical staff will now prioritise a swift and detailed evaluation upon Omar Marmoush’s return to Manchester, with the hope that his rehabilitation timeframe is shorter than initially feared.

Supporters will be eager to know whether the Egyptian striker could return before the next round of UEFA Champions League group stage fixtures in October, under the assumption that further absences against Napoli and Arsenal will follow next week.

For now, Pep Guardiola’s focus will turn towards reshaping his plans for Sunday’s derby, with Oscar Bobb, Doku, and Phil Foden all in contention to fill the attacking void left by Omar Marmoush.

The coming days could prove crucial in determining whether Manchester City head into one of the defining fixtures of their season with enough firepower to recover from what has been a testing international break.