City are already without influential Kevin de Bruyne, who has missed most of the season so far because of two knee injuries, and Sergio Aguero.
BREAKING: @ManCity midfielder David Silva out for three weeks with a muscular injury #SSN pic.twitter.com/79pzs5NPcR
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 11, 2018
Silva was forced out of City's Premier League loss against Chelsea on Saturday evening after just 68 minutes and it is estimated the 32-year-old Spaniard will now be sidelined for around three weeks, effectively the rest of the calendar year.
With De Bruyne and Aguero already missing from this week's Champions League clash with Hoffenheim, manager Pep Guardiola will have to call on the depth of his squad.
Danilo will also be missing, while Benjamin Mendy is a long-term absentee. Oleksandr Zinchenko could return after his sitting out the Chelsea game with a broken nose.
City have already qualified for the Champions League knockout stages and just a draw with Hoffenheim at the Etihad on Wednesday night would be enough to secure top spot in the group and a place among the seeds for the Last 16 draw in the New Year.
The problem for City comes when Premier League action resumes at the weekend and they have to face Everton in Saturday's early kickoff. Silva and De Bruyne will both still be out, with Guardiola admitting there is only 'maybe a chance' that Aguero could be back.
PEP: @21LVA not able, @DeBruyneKev not able, @2DaniLuiz not able, @aguerosergiokun isn't ready.
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 11, 2018
Silva is a few weeks.
Sergio maybe has a chance for the weekend.
City have incredible talents to call upon, but asking any team to survive without its three best and most important players is tough. After losing against Chelsea and being overtaken by a still unbeaten Liverpool in the Premier League table, the pressure is on for the reigning champions.
Source : 90min