Man City could miss Kyle Walker, Manu Akanji for Arsenal fixture
- Planet Sport writer
- 26 March 2024
Manchester City's preparations for their upcoming clash against Arsenal have been marred by yet another setback, as a fifth player withdraws from international duty.
The trio of Ederson, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jack Grealish had initially been ruled out or withdrawn from international squads before the current break, with Pep Guardiola expressing optimism about their return for training this week.
Recent images released by City indicated that both De Bruyne and Grealish were indeed back in training as scheduled, hinting at their potential availability for the Arsenal match on Sunday.
However, the injury concerns persist as Kyle Walker sustained a hamstring issue during England's friendly against Brazil over the weekend. While there's a possibility of his return in time to face Arsenal, his fitness will be evaluated upon his return to City.
Adding to the woes, Manu Akanji, a potential replacement for Walker against Arsenal, has become the fifth player to withdraw from international duty.
Switzerland's manager, Murat Yakin, confirmed that Akanji picked up an injury during their friendly against Belgium and subsequently missed training ahead of their game against Ireland.
Reports from Irish media suggest that Akanji has been omitted from the Swiss matchday squad, ruling him out of participation in the game.
Erling Haaland's participation in Norway's upcoming fixture adds to the suspense regarding his fitness, while the release of Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias from international duty after Portugal's victory over Sweden offers a glimmer of hope for Guardiola in managing the squad's workload effectively.
