MANCHESTER CITY are likely to be without key defender Aymeric Laporte until September following knee surgery in the summer.
The Spain international played through the pain barrier in the final few games of last season to help Pep Guardiola’s men clinch another title.
But he went under the knife soon after the end of the campaign and is still feeling his way back to full fitness.
It could explain why City were so determined to hang onto Nathan Ake when Chelsea tried to sign him earlier this summer.
Ahead of tomorrow’s Community Shield clash with Liverpool, Guardiola said: “Laporte is injured. He has knee surgery after last season.
“He played the last two or three games with an important injury and made an incredible effort.
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“He had surgery, so far he is doing really well but you have to be careful with a knee. I think August will be out, September I think maybe he will start to be with us.”
It leaves Guardiola with Ruben Dias, John Stones and Ake to choose from for the first few weeks of the season.
Meanwhile he expects his four new signings – Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phillips, Julian Alvarez and Stefan Ortega to find their feet quickly.
The German keeper is likely to be providing back up to Ederson but the other three will be straight into contention for the first team.
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Guardiola said: “Hopefully they will not need time, as quick as they can settle the better. In my feeling they will not take time.
“Stefan surprises us a lot and the other three guys too with the way they settle, they listen, they behave in the few games they’ve played.
“I think they are going to start quick.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
