Manchester City have a major headache with THREE central defenders now out for the rest of the season after the Blues lost Ruben Dias in the 5-0 rout of Newcastle. The Portugal international limped off with a hamstring problem at half-time and will not play again this season - along with John Stones and Kyle Walker.
And with Nathan Ake struggling with an ankle problem, and almost certainly out of Wednesday's clash with Wolves, Pep Guardiola said he is down to "three defenders for three games". Stones and Walker were not in the squad and Ake was on the bench, but Guardiola replaced Dias with Fernandinho at half-time.
The Brazil international had an excellent second half and may have to start at Molineux, after Guardiola confirmed: "Ruben, Kyle and John are out for the season" and said they would also miss next month's internationals.
ALSO READ: City verdict as Newcastle are routed
Guardiola was asked how important Fernandinho now becomes, with City still needing to win their remaining three games to be certain of retaining the title, and answered: "A lot, otherwise, it’s CJ (Ega-Riley) or (Luke) Mbete.
"In this situation it’s not a problem, Rodri can play there. We have the academy. Everyone has to do extra. Thirteen players and a half for these games and everyone has to do more and more to help our absence. We arrive with problems and that’s all. Fernandinho did good and we are going to do it."
Guardiola put Ake on the bench but did not bring him on as he is still struggling - the manager said that he was injured against Leeds last week: "We have Joao, Oleks and Aymer plus maybe Fernandinho."
Sign up to our City newsletter so you never miss an update from the Etihad Stadium this season.
