Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca has provided updates on the fitness situations of Jeremy Doku and Nico O’Reilly as the club prepares for a pivotal double-header.
Both wingers remained in England when the Manchester City squad travelled to Portugal for their opening Champions League fixture of the campaign against Porto.
Doku sustained his injury during the Community Shield, while O’Reilly withdrew from the warmup routine prior to the FA Cup quarter-final victory against Coventry at the weekend.
Neither player took part in Monday’s training session before the squad departed.
Medical assessments of O’Reilly’s complaint indicated the problem was not considered serious, and the manager expressed cautious optimism regarding his potential involvement in Sunday’s encounter with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The outlook for Doku appears less favourable.
Despite Maresca confirming the Belgian international is progressing in his recovery, the anticipated timeline has extended beyond initial expectations.
Where a fortnight absence was originally anticipated, it now seems Doku will be unavailable for at least the opening five competitive fixtures of the season.
Manchester City enter the Champions League as one of the leading contenders for the trophy.
A club-record investment of close to £430 million during the summer transfer window has further amplified external expectations surrounding the squad.
Maresca acknowledged the elevated pressures inherent to the role at the Etihad Stadium, recognising that demands on the club consistently surpass those faced by most competitors.
The squad confronts a demanding schedule, with the Porto fixture preceding the derby at Old Trafford.