Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Antoine Semenyo will be out until December after picking up a significant injury, while Erling Haaland is a doubt for the upcoming Champions League match against AEK Athens.
Semenyo Sidelined for Eight Weeks
Semenyo sustained the injury during Saturday's Premier League win over Ipswich, where five City players limped out of the game. Matheus Nunes, Mateo Kovacic and Nico O'Reilly were substituted, while Haaland and Semenyo hobbled off at full-time.
Maresca revealed that scans have provided a clearer picture of the injuries. "The only one that will be out for probably eight weeks is Antoine. In the first moment we expect an even worse injury so we were more worried but after the scan we are less worried. It could be eight weeks. Now the most important thing is to recover it. When he is back, around December, we have a new player. It's not muscular," he said.
Haaland's Fitness in Question
Haaland did not suffer a serious issue in the closing minutes of the win over Ipswich, but his availability for the AEK Athens match remains uncertain. "[Erling] can be available. We will see. We have a session now. We have some doubts after Saturday's game. He was quite good yesterday, better," Maresca added. "The rest are more or less okay."
Semenyo's absence will be felt both on the wings and up front, where he was expected to serve as Haaland's backup. Jeremy Doku and Iliman Ndiaye are set to be first-choice wingers, while Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki, Allan, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Ryan McAidoo could see more minutes out wide.
Champions League Context
City are only a quarter of the way into the first phase of the Champions League, but could do with beating AEK Athens after losing at home to Paris Saint-Germain last week. They travel to Leipzig before the November international break and then have games at home to Napoli and away to Barcelona before Christmas in the competition.
