JUST IN: Man City’s Key Players in Major Doubt: Haaland, Rodri, and Ederson’s Latest Injury Updates Could Change Everything Ahead of Villa Game
Manchester City will be looking to extend their strong Premier League form as they aim for their fourth win in five matches when they host Aston Villa at the Etihad on Tuesday night. After a hard-fought victory over Everton at Goodison Park last Saturday, Pep Guardiola’s side will be full of confidence, although they had to rely on late goals from Nico O’Reilly and Mateo Kovacic to secure a 2-0 win. The result keeps City in a strong position to qualify for next season’s Champions League, but with only a few matches left in the season, the race remains incredibly tight. Five clubs are still vying for those coveted spots in Europe’s elite competition.
Aston Villa, under the management of Unai Emery, are one of those teams pushing City for a top-four finish, and they arrive at the Etihad on the back of a commanding 4-1 win over Newcastle United. As the battle for Champions League qualification intensifies, City’s injury and suspension situation has become a growing concern. With a crucial match against Villa looming, the club’s fitness worries could affect their chances of securing another vital three points.
Ederson, City’s reliable first-choice goalkeeper, is facing a spell on the sidelines due to a recurring groin issue, one that was aggravated in the team’s recent home fixture against Crystal Palace. There are now fears that the Brazilian shot-stopper could miss a significant portion of the remainder of the season, including the Villa clash. Ederson’s absence was felt in the weekend victory over Everton, where backup goalkeeper Stefan Ortega had to step in and help keep the clean sheet. Guardiola will be hoping for a quick recovery, but the situation remains uncertain.
In addition to Ederson’s injury, Erling Haaland has been struggling with an ankle issue he picked up during City’s FA Cup win away to Bournemouth in late March. The Norwegian striker, who has been a crucial figure in City’s attack, is expected to make a return before the end of the season. However, it is believed that he may not be available for Tuesday’s match against Villa, and a return is now likely to come in early May, meaning City could be without their top scorer for at least a few more games.
Rodri, one of City’s most consistent performers in midfield, has been sidelined since September last year after suffering an ACL injury during a match against Arsenal. Despite hopes that he could recover sooner, there have been no new updates indicating that the Spaniard will feature again this season. His absence has been a blow to Guardiola, who has had to shuffle his midfield options in the absence of the influential Spanish international.
Defender Nathan Aké is also struggling with a foot injury. After undergoing surgery in March to address a fracture in his left foot, Aké’s return is now uncertain. Current medical advice suggests it will be difficult for the Dutch international to return before the conclusion of the Premier League season, which would be a further blow to Guardiola’s defensive options.
Finally, England defender John Stones has been out of action since February after suffering a thigh injury in the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. While there is some hope for a potential return in May, it remains to be seen whether he will be fit in time to feature in City’s final matches of the season, particularly as Guardiola looks to maintain a strong defensive unit for their remaining fixtures.
With multiple key players sidelined or recovering from injury, Guardiola faces a challenging task in securing another victory against a Villa side that has been in strong form under Emery. As the race for the Champions League spots reaches its climax, City will need to navigate these injury concerns carefully if they hope to continue their pursuit of silverware and finish the season on a high.
