Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is unsure whether Fernandinho will be available to play Leicester City on Monday.
The 34-year old midfielder sustained an injury to his knee in City’s Manchester Derby clash with their rivals Manchester United, and may be unable to play on Monday.
“I don’t know, I didn’t speak in the last days with the doctors,” said Guardiola, as quoted by the Daily Mail.
“They started to go on the pitch to run. They are coming back soon.”
OPINION
It could be a huge loss for City should Fernandinho be unavailable, especially in such a crucial stage of the season with the title race in full swing. It certainly won’t be a walk in the part for Guardiola’s side, as they host Leicester at the Etihad Stadium on Monday, and the task will be made even more difficult without the defensive stability that the Brazilian midfielder brings. Without him, City lack the extra defence ahead of the defensive line that has been so crucial so far this season, and it could prove to be costly in the final push for the Premier League title, if Liverpool manage to get the three points away at Newcastle. Should Fernandinho be unfit for the fixture on Monday, it may end up being a case of which side can outscore the other, and although City have been prolific in front of goal this season, Guardiola won’t want to risk getting any result out of the game other than a win, especially at this stage in the season; but he knows his job would be made harder without a key player like Fernandinho to call upon.