Manchester City’s Rayan Aït-Nouri ruled out for 5 weeks with injury

Manchester City’s defensive options have taken another hit with confirmation that Rayan Aït-Nouri (24) will miss five weeks of action after sustaining an ankle injury in the club’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham last month.

As reported by Fabrizio Romano, the Algerian international’s setback is expected to keep him sidelined until late October, a significant blow for Pep Guardiola given the demanding run of fixtures ahead, with their Champions League campaign set to start in midweek.

Aït-Nouri had enjoyed a promising start to life at the Etihad, impressing in City’s FIFA Club World Cup triumph and producing a standout display in the 4-0 victory over Wolves on the opening weekend. His enforced absence now halts that early momentum, just as he appeared close to cementing the left-back role as his own.

Ait Nouri adds to City’s injury woes

He joins a growing list of City absentees, with Rayan Cherki, Omar Marmoush, and Mateo Kovačić all currently out injured. The mounting fitness concerns will test Guardiola’s squad depth as the champions juggle their Premier League campaign with Champions League commitments.

In Aït-Nouri’s absence, Guardiola is expected to turn to Nathan Aké or Joško Gvardiol to cover the left side of defence. Both are dependable options, but neither offers quite the same attacking thrust that Aït-Nouri has provided.

City will face Manchester United in the much-anticipated derby match on Sunday.

GFN | Finn Entwistle

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