Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne looks set to be ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring injury at the weekend.
The Belgian playmaker pulled up shortly before half-time in City's win over Spurs on Saturday and was assessed on Sunday.
He missed training on Monday ahead of Wednesday's huge Manchester derby - and he's now been sidelined until the end of the Premier League campaign after further tests revealed a small hamstring tear.
The news is a major blow to City's title hopes with no margin for error in their battle with Liverpool , who will welcome the news of one of Pep Guardiola's key players missing out in the run-in.
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Guardiola had already ruled De Bruyne out of the Manchester derby, but he won't be called upon in any of their remaining four games although he could be fit to feature in the FA Cup final.
He is expected to need to wait for at least two weeks before returning to full training.
The midfielder has experienced an injury-plagued year but has still made a significant impact when fully fit with two assists in their recent win at Crystal Palace as well as a hat-trick of assists in their dramatic Champions League quarter-final second leg defeat to Spurs.
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Defender Benjamin Mendy is also a doubt for Wednesday's Manchester derby.
He appeared to be absent from training on Monday having been left out of their matchday squad to face Spurs as his return from a long-term injury is carefully managed.
City's trip to Old Trafford in midweek is followed by an away clash at Burnley on Sunday before they host Leicester and head to Brighton in their final two Premier League games.
