Pep Guardiola has confirmed Jeremy Doku has suffered a leg injury after the winger was missing from the Manchester City squad for their trip to Crystal Palace.
Doku was a surprised absence when teams were confirmed for Sunday’s Premier League clash at Selhurst Park.
The Belgium winger has been one of City’s best performers this season and his injury will be a concern for Guardiola.
Doku played 87 minutes in Wednesday’s Champions League win against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, as he was substituted in the cosing stages as City saw out a 2-1 victory.
Explaining why Doku was absent against Palace, Guardiola said in an interview before kick-off: “Leg injury.”
Asked how Doku’s injury will impact City’s attacking options, Guardiola said: “His quality… we have another. Another player plays and has their own qualities. Of course Jeremy is so important in the final third in the small spaces. But during the season you have injuries.”
Guardiola did not offer any more information and it is not clear at this stage how serious the injury is or how long Doku might be sidelined.
After their trip to Selhurst Park, Palace face Brentford in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday and then host West Ham in the Premier League next weekend.
They then face away games against Nottingham Forest and Sunderland after Christmas, in what is a crucial period in the title race.
