PEP GUARDIOLA is facing a massive injury crisis.
Manchester City defenders Kyle Walker, John Stones and Manuel Akanji are all doubts for Sunday’s title showdown with Arsenal after being crocked on international duty.
Ederson, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Matheus Nunes are also concerns for boss Guardiola.
England star Walker is having a second scan on the hamstring injury he suffered in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat by Brazil and is a major doubt for the Etihad clash with the table-topping Gunners.
Fellow defenders Stones and Akanji also returned from international duty with problems.
And that gives City chief Guardiola a real headache ahead of a huge run of games.
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City have seven matches between now and April 20 — four in the Prem, a two-legged Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid and an FA Cup semi against Chelsea.
There was hope Walker was taken off as a precaution by Gareth Southgate on Saturday.
Initial reports suggested he should be fine to face the Gunners but that now looks less likely with City carrying out more tests on the full-back.
And he has been joined on the treatment table at the Etihad by Stones, who limped out of England’s 2-2 draw against Belgium on Tuesday.
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Stones has suffered a series of setbacks already this season and has managed only 11 league starts for the Treble winners.
To make matters worse, Akanji, who has filled in at right-back as well as being a key man at centre-half, is also a doubt after pulling out of the Swiss squad with a knock.
Midfielder Nunes reported a foot injury and was withdrawn from the Portuguese squad.
Kingpin De Bruyne has been nursing a groin niggle but did come through a session with City’s Under-23s on Tuesday.
Winger Grealish and keeper Ederson are working their way back to fitness — and Guardiola will be hoping for positive updates when he returns from a break in Barcelona today.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
