Man City could lose Josko Gvardiol for season after broken leg

According to Goal, Manchester City face the prospect of being without defender Josko Gvardiol for the remainder of the season after he suffered a tibial fracture in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea. City said the 23-year-old sustained the injury a few minutes into the second half after what appeared to be a fairly innocuous knock; he was able to walk off with assistance.

A club medical report confirmed a "tibial fracture" to his right leg and said Gvardiol will have surgery in the coming days, with the assessment period ongoing and no official timeframe for a return. To play again this season would require full recovery and rehab in less than five months.

The injury compounds other defensive concerns: Ruben Dias also left the Chelsea game and, according to Daily Mail reporting, is undergoing tests for a muscle problem, while John Stones has been sidelined since early December and Manuel Akanji is on loan. That leaves Abdukodir Khusanov and Nathan Ake as the only fit senior centre-backs in the first-team squad; Ake's workload is being carefully managed.

Key Topics

Sports, Josko Gvardiol, Manchester City, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Tibial Fracture