John Stones has added to Manchester City ’s injury woes by picking up an injury which will keep him out for four or five weeks.
The Blues lost Aymeric Laporte a fortnight ago, with a knee injury which will keep him out until 2020 following surgery.
But now Stones has picked up a thigh problem in training in Kharkiv this morning, ruling him out of the Champions League opener against Shakhtar Donetsk. Th England defender returned from another thigh injury at Norwich on Saturday, when he did not look fully fit.
Eric Garcia has travelled with the squad, and Fernandinho has been earmarked as a possible centre back this season, while Guardiola has also said 18-year-old Taylor Harwood-Bellis is in his mind.
The blow leaves City with just one fit centre back, Nicolas Otamendi – who had a nightmare in the 3-2 defeat at Norwich on Saturday.
Asked how he plans to solve the issue, Guardiola responded: "[It's a] Big challenge. So for me as a manager it’s an incredible challenge, just one central defender in Nico [Otamendi].
"But I believe a lot, people don’t know the spirit and resolve to solve this problem. The player’s going to come back with Dinho [Fernandinho], [Eric] Garcia, Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
"It’s happened, but what we are not going to do is complain. If they are not able, they are not able. We have to have 11 players on the pitch and I like it, to find a solution.
"For the players as well to find an incredible step forward. John and Aymer [Laporte] are injured for a long time."
