PEP GUARDIOLA admits Manchester City are facing an “emergency” situation amid the club’s injury crisis.
Forward Savinho, 20, became the latest casualty on Wednesday as he was stretchered off in tears during Man City’s Carabao Cup defeat to Tottenham.
The Brazilian is set to be out for two weeks with an ankle sprain.
Manuel Akanji has also experienced a fitness issue after he felt a tweak in the warm-up ahead of the Spurs clash as he joins a host of star players on the sideline.
They include Rodri, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku, Kevin de Bruyne, Manuel Akanji, Oscar Bobb and Josko Gvardiol.
The absentees leave Man City desperately short in terms of squad depth.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
And Guardiola has revealed he may have to rely on his academy players in the coming weeks.
He said: “It happens in many clubs and we’re not the only club in the world to be going through it. There are a lot [of injuries] in certain departments and positions but it is what it is.
“We are using them [the academy players] because we are in an emergency in certain positions but some of them, we trust them, like in the past.
“They help us, that’s why the academy is there… We don’t have other options, sometimes.”
Most read in Football
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Youngsters Nico O’Reilly, James McAtee and Jacob Wright all featured in midweek and could play a part against Bournemouth on Saturday.
Guardiola is hopeful a number of his side’s injury problems will be resolved by the turn of the year.
He added: “Maybe in January we will have all the players back, except Rodri.
“When we are all together, the squad is enough, when completely focused and fit.
“For now we just have to try to recover players as quick as possible and then we will see.”
Following the trip to Bournemouth, Man City travel to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League as they test themselves against incoming Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim.
Their final game before the international break then comes away at Brighton on November 9.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
