Manchester City midfielder David Silva will be out for “a few weeks” with a hamstring injury picked up against Chelsea, manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed.
Silva was replaced by Ilkay Gundogan after just 68 minutes as City suffered a 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, ending their unbeaten start to the Premier League season.
Guardiola is already without Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho, Kevin de Bruyne and Danilo for Wednesday’s visit of Hoffenheim in the Champions League, and claimed that he could have as little as 15 fit senior players to choose from at the Etihad Stadium.
“David Silva is not able,” Guardiola said. “He will be a few weeks – in the last game he was subbed. Kevin De Bruyne (knee) is not able. Danilo is not able. Sergio Aguero is not ready.
“We have 15 players available, so I can't do it too much [rotating]. We are in the next stage which is important but we have to try and win every game to finish first [in the group].”
Better news for City, however, is the possibility of Aguero’s return for the visit of Everton to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday after missing the Chelsea game with a groin problem.
Aguero and De Bruyne both trained with the rest of the City squad in an open session at the Etihad Campus on Tuesday, though defender Kyle Walker sat out as a precaution.
City have already booked their place in the Champions League knockout stage, and require only a point to confirm top spot in Group F.
