Manchester City have been dealt a fresh injury concern after summer signing **Rayan Ait-Nouri** picked up a knock during their 2-0 defeat to **Tottenham Hotspur** at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. The French-born Algerian left-back, who was handed his first start in City colours, lasted less than a quarter of an hour before suffering a worrying ankle issue that forced him off early in the contest.
The incident occurred in the 15th minute when Ait-Nouri attempted to close down Spurs forward **Mohammed Kudus**. In the process of pressing the attacker, the defender twisted his left ankle awkwardly. Despite initially trying to shake it off and continue, it soon became clear that the discomfort was affecting his movement. By the 23rd minute, manager **Pep Guardiola** had no choice but to make a substitution, bringing on **Nathan Ake** to replace him.
The premature exit has raised concerns among supporters and coaching staff alike. City are already grappling with fitness issues across multiple positions, and the timing of this latest blow could hardly be worse. Guardiola, when asked about the situation after the match, admitted that he could not yet give a proper update on the defender’s condition, noting that he had not spoken directly to the medical team. The uncertainty means there is a genuine question mark over whether Ait-Nouri will be available for City’s upcoming Premier League clash with **Brighton & Hove Albion** on **August 31**.
This potential absence only adds to City’s current injury headache. The club already has several key players in the treatment room, including **Josko Gvardiol, Savinho, Mateo Kovacic, Kalvin Phillips,** and **Marcus Bettinelli**. The positive news, however, is that Gvardiol appears to be edging closer to a return, having resumed full training with the first team earlier in the week. His availability in the near future could ease the defensive concerns somewhat, particularly if Ait-Nouri is sidelined for an extended period.
The timing of the setback could not be more critical. Manchester City face a demanding run of fixtures in the coming weeks that will test both their squad depth and Guardiola’s tactical flexibility. After the Brighton match, the champions will turn their attention to the **Manchester derby** against **United** on **September 14**, before making the difficult trip to the **Emirates Stadium** to take on **Arsenal** just a week later. These matches are expected to play a significant role in shaping the early stages of the title race, and Guardiola will need as many of his key players available as possible.
With uncertainty surrounding Ait-Nouri’s fitness, City fans will be anxiously awaiting further updates from the medical staff. His pace, energy, and attacking outlet down the left flank were seen as vital assets when he was signed, and losing him at this stage would represent a frustrating blow to Guardiola’s plans.
