Manchester City manager Manuele Pellegrini has confirmed that the club will be without the services of defender Gael Clichy for up to 7 weeks due to an ankle problem while forward Wilfred Bony will also miss the tie, having posted an image with crutches on his Instagram account. The Chilean is set to name three youngsters from the bench for the match against Watford.
Manchester City defender Gael Clichy will be out for up to 7 week due to an ankle knock. The injury was confirmed by manager Manuele Pellegrini, who was quoted as saying to ESPN FC, “Clichy has a problem in his ankle, so I think he will be out for around six or seven weeks.”
Striker Wilfred Bony is also out and he added to the worries of City faithfuls when he posted an image with his leg in crutches, on his official Instagram account.
However, allaying any fears of a long lay off for the forward, Pellegrini said:
“Bony had yesterday a gash in his leg of around six or seven centimetres, so he is not able to play tomorrow [Saturday].
“After the international break, he will be ready for the next game so it must be seven or 10 days.”
The Citizens will have three youngsters in their squad following the absence of the duo. The 18-man squad for Saturday’s clash with Watford will consist of Kelechi Iheanacho, Patrick Roberts and Pablo Maffeo, who could get his debut for City at right-back following a switch from FC Barcelona in the absence of Zabaleta.
Pellegrini is also set to hand academy graduate Iheanacho a summer signing from Fulham worth A?5m and offer Patrick Roberts a chance in the squad.
“In the squad list we have Pablo Maffeo from the EDS [elite development squad] and Kelechi and Patrick Roberts,” Pelelgrini confirmed.
City host Watford at the Etihad tomorrow evening.
