Published: 16:50, September 20, 2021 | Updated: 18:03, September 20, 2021
Man City facing injury crisis as key battles loom large
By Reuters

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola reacts during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Southampton at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on Sept 18, 2021. (OLI SCARFF / AFP)

MANCHESTER, England - Manchester City will have to field several youngsters in Tuesday's League Cup clash against Wycombe Wanderers as a number of players are suffering from injuries, manager Pep Guardiola said.

"I don't have any alternative (against Wycombe)... we are going to play a few young players," Guardiola was quoted as saying by the club's website on Sunday.

"We have John (Stones), Aymeric (Laporte), Oleks (Zinchenko), Rodri and I think (Ilkay) Gundogan all of them injured.

"It's a good opportunity for the academy - that's why they are there."

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Following the match against Wycombe, City face Premier League leaders Chelsea, Paris St Germain in the Champions League and then Liverpool within a space of nine days, meaning the injuries are causing Guardiola a considerable amount of concern.

"Some players might rest for the games we have coming up ahead of us," he added.

"Ruben (Dias) played all of the minutes so far and Joao (Cancelo) played all of the minutes, too, so I don't think they will be able to play in this game."

Leicester City's Belgian defender Timothy Castagne (left) closes in on Manchester City's German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Manchester City at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on Sept 11, 2021. (LINDSEY PARNABY / AFP)