Manchester City faces potential setbacks in their upcoming clash against Aston Villa, with winger Jeremy Doku possibly sidelined due to an injury sustained against Tottenham. Despite an impactful start against Tottenham’s tactics, Doku’s influence waned in the second half, leading to his substitution on 52 minutes with an apparent injury.
The 21-year-old, who initially edged out Jack Grealish in the starting lineup, limped off the pitch, raising concerns about his availability for the upcoming game at Villa Park on Wednesday. This comes amidst a busy holiday season for City, with three games in a week.
Notably, Roy Keane had praised Doku’s undroppable status before the game, highlighting his different playing style and commendable fitness. However, the potential absence of Doku adds to City’s worries, as both Rodri and Grealish received their fifth yellow cards against Tottenham. Grealish’s booking, attributed to kicking the ball away on the hour mark, compounded the issue after Rodri was previously booked for a foul on Pedro Porro during a counter-attack.
This accumulation of yellow cards raises the possibility of Rodri and Grealish being benched due to suspension for the upcoming encounter. Jamie Carragher, providing commentary at the Etihad, expressed apprehension about the challenges City might face without these key players. He emphasized the difficulty of facing Aston Villa even with a full-strength team, underscoring the potential impact of the suspensions on City’s performance.
