Manchester City will be without Nathan Ake for Saturday afternoon’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace and Pep Guardiola gave an update on the 27-year-old’s situation in Friday’s pre-match press conference.
He said: “Nathan is coming back soon. He will be out for not much time. Yesterday he started running.”
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Ake was substituted with a knock midway through the first half of City’s 3-3 draw with Newcastle United on Sunday and missed their 3-3 friendly draw with Barcelona on Wednesday.
The Dutch international had played in every game for City this season and impressed, so he will be a loss for Guardiola – the Sky Blues shipped three goals in the game he was forced off in.
Ruben Dias and John Stones will partner one another at the back against Palace, but neither player has been at their best this season. Ake, however, has blocked more shots (2) than any City defender and has lost fewer aerial duels (every 100.5 minutes) than all but three players in the squad.
The 27-year-old is yet to give away a foul and hasn’t been dispossessed on the ball either, so he’s having a better start to the season. His return won’t be until September as he’s still recovering though, so City might have to play a couple more games without him.
In other news, injury blow for Man City as Jack Grealish could miss Crystal Palace clash