The reigning champions have been dealt a significant setback just days before their top-flight campaign begins on home soil against Bournemouth, with the player expected to be unavailable for a number of weeks.
Jeremy Doku sustained the problem during last weekend’s Community Shield loss to Arsenal at the Principality Stadium. The Belgium international completed the opening half before being replaced by Jack Grealish at the interval.
According to reports from Nieuwsblad, Doku appears to have damaged his calf, and although the precise timeframe remains uncertain, he is anticipated to be sidelined for several weeks.
The report adds that the problem may be connected to prior fitness concerns, with officials at the club increasingly worried this could be an ongoing issue rather than a one-off occurrence. Sources suggest City believe the problem stems from his involvement in Belgium’s World Cup run, where he featured in five of their six matches at the tournament.
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The timing poses challenges for Enzo Maresca, who is gearing up for his inaugural Premier League match as City’s new manager after taking over from Guardiola during the close season.
Doku contributed 47 appearances last term, finding the net eight times and providing 14 assists. He played a key role in their Carabao Cup triumph and featured prominently in their journey to FA Cup glory.
Doku was among three fitness concerns following City’s 3-0 Community Shield reverse to Arsenal.
City meet Bournemouth in their league opener on Sunday and will seek to recover from that heavy loss to Arsenal, with Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz, and Martin Odegaard all on target during Mikel Arteta’s side’s commanding display in Cardiff.
After the match, Maresca expressed frustration about his team’s beginning, after Calafiori struck inside the opening half-minute. He noted that a significant portion of the match hinged on the opening goal they conceded so early. The response was positive, with his side creating three or four opportunities to equalise before conceding again. When those chances went begging, the task became considerably harder following the second goal. He added that he maintains concern regardless of results, as this marks only the start and there remains much to address, though the comeback showed promise. The focus now shifts to resetting, reviewing, and turning attention towards Tuesday’s preparations for the Bournemouth fixture.