Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake will not feature for Manchester City against Manchester United after both failed to recover from the injuries they picked up in midweek.
The two central defenders started together in the FA Cup win over Peterborough but neither emerged for the second half. Ake suffered an issue while jumping for a challenge while Dias felt something in his hamstring.
After assessment of the problems, City's medical staff confirmed to Pep Guardiola as early as Friday lunchtime that they would be unable to face United on Sunday. Dias will be out for between four and six weeks with a hamstring injury, although the manager hopes Ake will be back sooner.
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John Stones and Aymeric Laporte came on for the second half against Peterborough and will be expected to continue their partnership in the derby. With a hectic schedule ahead however, Guardiola has concerns over how his small squad will cope with a lengthy Dias absence.
"It happens. In other seasons our best players have been out for months," he said. "I'd love him but he's not there, I will not cry. It is what it is. During the season it happens.
"People say we were lucky with Covid. We have had 14,15 fit players for the last I don't know how many games. With these players we are going to fight and try to play good. It is impossible to fight if you don't play good. We play with our people and hopefully our people support as they always do."
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