Journalist Sam Lee, covering Manchester City, has provided an update on the injury status of 29-year-old midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
The player missed Croatia’s Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Latvia and Armenia due to a recurring muscular ailment, and the journalist suggests that the Croatian could potentially be sidelined for 2-3 weeks.
Kovacic’s injury setback occurred during the Chelsea game last weekend, marking a recurrence of the thigh injury he sustained in September. While City is expected to gain a clearer understanding of the diagnosis in the coming week, the current assessment points towards a recovery period of 2-3 weeks.
Having joined Manchester City from Chelsea in the previous summer transfer window for a fee of £30 million, Kovacic has been a significant presence, making 14 appearances across all competitions. His absence earlier in the season was due to a thigh injury, causing him to miss Premier League clashes against West Ham United and Nottingham Forest.
In the subsequent matches, Kovacic returned to the lineup, featuring in five of the club’s six league games, with three starts.
The potential three-week absence could see him miss crucial fixtures, including league encounters against Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Aston Villa, as well as a Champions League group game against RB Leipzig.
The journalist’s update raises concerns about the impact of Kovacic’s absence, considering the importance of the upcoming matches.
With key clashes on the horizon, including a highly anticipated showdown against Liverpool, Kovacic’s potential unavailability is seen as a significant loss for Pep Guardiola’s team.
As Manchester City navigates a challenging stretch of fixtures, the hope within the club is for Kovacic’s injury to be resolved swiftly, minimizing the duration of his absence.
The team will undoubtedly feel the impact of losing a player of Kovacic’s caliber, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of injuries in the world of football and the subsequent challenges they pose for squad depth and tactical planning.
