Manchester City ended a run of seven games without a win on Wednesday night but Pep Guardiola has confirmed a double injury blow.
The Premier League champions, who have been in horrific form in recent weeks, conjured up a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest thanks to goals from Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku.
But it may have come at a cost for City after two of their players – Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji – suffered fresh injury problems at the Etihad.
Ake was forced off in the second half with what looked like a hamstring issue while Akanji was hooked at half-time in a new blow for Guardiola.
Speaking after the match, the City manager said: ‘The problems continued with Manuel and Nathan.
‘Nathan doesn’t look good. We will see tomorrow. He could not continue and we will see in three days what will happen.
‘I am sad for Nathan. Manu maybe [can return] in Turin [against Juventus on December 11]. Nathan will be longer.’
Meanwhile, City superstar De Bruyne denied rumours of a rift with his manager Guardiola after he scored in the win over Forest.
‘I know a lot has been said,’ De Bruyne told the BBC in response to the reports. ‘There have never been issues between me and Pep.
‘He knows I’ve been struggling. It’s painful and uncomfortable. I want to be back on the pitch.
‘I felt good at the start of the season. I’m working hard to get back with my body. Maybe it’s going to be an up and down moment from now.
‘Hopefully I can get back to my body with not much pain and then I’ll be fine.’
City are back in Premier League action on Saturday as they lock horns with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
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