Pep Guardiola fears Aymeric Laporte faces an extended time out after suffering a knee injury in Manchester City’s 4-0 win against Brighton.
The centre-back was sent to hospital for tests after leaving the pitch on a stretcher in the first-half.
City’s medical staff are waiting for the final results, but fear the France defender has sustained serious damage.
Guardiola said: “It doesn’t look good. Tomorrow we will know.
“Now, exactly what he has I don’t know. The doctor is going to call me but I think it will be a while. Hopefully it is not as long as Leroy (Sane).”
Sane is sidelined until February at the earliest after damaging his ACL in the Community Shield.
Laporte was clearly in distress after hurting himself in a challenge with Adam Webster.
His right knee took the impact of the collision, with the 25-year-old failing to get back to his feet.
The defender had only just earned a call-up by Didier Deschamps after being overlooked by the World Cup winners despite his outstanding form for City.
Pep Guardiola praised his call up, saying: “For me he is the best left-sided central defender in Europe.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Deschamps. Hopefully he can play good and stay there for a long time. All of us are so happy for him because he was looking for this call for a long time.”
Fernandinho replaced Laporte in defence, with John Stones still recovering from a thigh injury that will keep him out until after the international break.
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