Manchester City could miss one of their star players for a portion of next season due to potential involvement in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Algeria's Riyad Mahrez could be unavailable for up to a month between January 9 and February 6, when the tournament takes place in Cameroon.
The tournament was set to take place last summer but the Confederation of African Football (CAF) decided it should be played in the winter because of the weather conditions.
Mahrez is set to miss crucial Premier League clashes against Chelsea on January 15 and Southampton on January 22, as well as the fourth round of the FA Cup on January 8.
Furthermore, the silky winger could also be absent for the game against Brentford on February 9, depending on how far Algeria make it into the tournament.
The 30-year-old was a crucial part of the Fennec Foxes team who lifted the AFCON title in 2019, defeating Senegal 1-0 in the final thanks to a goal from Baghdad Bounedjah in the second minute.
Mahrez enjoyed a superb 2020/21 season for City, notching 14 goals and nine assists across all competitions, including three goals in the Blues' Champions League semi-final triumph over PSG.
