Brentford are facing a striker crisis after Thomas Frank confirmed Yoane Wissa will be out for a “couple of months” with an ankle injury.
Wissa was forced off at the Etihad after suffering the problem following a heavy tackle from Man City midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
And with the Bees missing £30million summer signing Igor Thiago until the New Year due to a knee injury and having sold Ivan Toney to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli, they are now short of options.
"Wissa is, unfortunately, not good news,” Frank said. “It looks like an injury that will be a couple of months. It’s very frustrating. We talked about our many injuries last year, I hope I don't have to talk too much about it this year, I maybe already have.
"We were unlucky with Igor [Thiago], unlucky with [Aaron] Hickey; we've then had two contact injuries with Mathias Jensen and Yoane Wissa, so that's very frustrating.
"But that's part of football, we move on, and we will find solutions."
Wissa and strike partner Bryan Mbeumo are the only Brentford players to score in the Premier League so far this season, with both on three goals.
But Frank will hope to share the goals around with the likes of Keane Lewis-Potter, Kevin Schade, Mathias Jensen and Fabio Carvalho contributing.
Lewis-Potter found the net in their 1-0 EFL Cup win over Colchester, but no other players have yet get on the scoresheet this campaign.
"It will leave a big hole,” Frank added. “Everybody was saying we bought Igor Thiago to replace Ivan [Toney] - but we still had Wissa; we bought Igor Thiago to build the squad and provide competition in the squad.
"Wissa had a very good season last year and I thought he has started the season very well this year, with three goals in four games, that's a very good number.
"He's just been very important for us and that's going to leave a hole. But, again, I will find a solution."
Brentford are currently ninth in the Premier League and host Leyton Orient in the EFL Cup third round on Tuesday night before travelling to Tottenham on Saturday.
The west London side won their opening game of the league season against Crystal Palace before losing to Liverpool and beating Southampton.
