Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo will be sidelined for eight weeks with a knee injury, while three other players are doubtful for the upcoming Premier League match against Aston Villa.
Semenyo was absent from the squad for the 5-1 Champions League victory over AEK Athens, along with Mateo Kovacic, Nico O'Reilly and Matheus Nunes. The Ghana international had been seen in discomfort following the 3-2 win over Ipswich, having already pulled out of his country's international camp due to swelling on his leg.
Semenyo's Knee Injury Confirmed
Manager Enzo Maresca revealed the extent of Semenyo's injury on Monday. "In the first moment, we expected a worst injury," he said. "After yesterday's scan, we will feel better. It will be eight weeks, so when he is back in December, it will be like a new player. Not muscular. To lose Antoine, or any player, is not good."
The former Bournemouth winger had returned to face Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Ipswich, where he came on as a second-half substitute to replace Jeremy Doku. His potential return date is December.
Kovacic, O'Reilly and Nunes Fitness Concerns
Mateo Kovacic started in midfield against Ipswich but was replaced on 50 minutes after taking a knock. Although Maresca said "Mateo said he was OK," the Croatian was not in the squad for the AEK Athens match.
Nico O'Reilly, who was also taken off against Ipswich, is dealing with a recurrence of the back problem that forced him to withdraw during the warm-up against Coventry. "Nico, it's still his back," Maresca said on Saturday. "If you remember, against Coventry in the warm-up, it's the same problem."
Matheus Nunes, another player seen in pain after the Ipswich match, was described by Maresca as "more or less okay" on Monday, but he too was left out of the matchday squad against AEK Athens. Kovacic, O'Reilly and Nunes are all potential returnees for the October 24 trip to Aston Villa.
