Aymeric Laporte will be out for up to six months, Pep Guardiola has confirmed – but Leroy Sane could be back as early as December following knee ligament injury.
Laporte’s absence is a major blow to Manchester City’s Premier League title defence after undergoing meniscus surgery during the international break.
City expected the France defender to be out until at least the New Year, but Guardiola revealed his recovery could extend to February.
He joins Sane on the long-term absentee list after the Germany winger’s anterior cruciate ligament damage.
Sane had been expected to be side-lined until spring, but there is now hope he could return ahead of schedule.
“He’s back before the end of the season,” said Guardiola. “December, January, February could be perfect. The surgeon told me it was perfect.
“He’s here with us, making his rebab - hopefully he comes back well and we’ll see.”
On Laporte City’s manager added: “It’s long – five or six months. January or February maybe. Next year for sure.”
John Stones is back for Norwich after recovering from a thigh injury, while Gabriel Jesus has also recovered from a hamstring strain.
Ilkay Gundogan has overcome a stomach upset and Benjamin Mendy is close to making his comeback after his latest knee injury.
Guardiola is determined to take precautions over the France left-back, who has endured two injury-ravaged seasons at the Etihad.
He said: “He’s good and he’s training, everything is going well, the knee is reacting well, hopefully in the next games he can be part of it.
“After what’s happened we have to be careful. Training is one things, and another thing is high competition.”
