Manchester City have suffered a significant injury setback after Enzo Maresca revealed that Antoine Semenyo could spend up to eight weeks on the sidelines with a knee problem.
Semenyo picked up the injury during City’s dramatic 3-2 Premier League victory over Ipswich Town on Saturday, raising concerns about his availability for the club’s upcoming fixtures.
However, the initial fears surrounding the extent of the damage have eased following medical examinations, with Maresca confirming that the situation is not as serious as the club initially anticipated.
“After the scan, we feel much better because it’s not as bad as we expected.
“It could be eight weeks, so now the most important thing is for him to recover.”
The potential eight-week absence represents a major blow for City as they prepare for a demanding run of domestic and European fixtures. The club will now focus on helping the forward recover fully rather than rushing him back into action.
While Semenyo faces a lengthy spell out, City have received encouraging news regarding Erling Haaland, who could be available for Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League home encounter against AEK Athens.
Both players were forced off after suffering knocks during the hard-fought win over Ipswich, leaving question marks over their fitness ahead of the European fixture.
Haaland’s situation, however, appears more encouraging, with Maresca indicating that the Norwegian striker has made progress since Saturday.
“He can be available. We see.
“We have a session now. We have some doubts after Saturday’s game.
“He was quite good yesterday, better, so we’ll see today.”
The final decision on Haaland’s involvement will depend on how he responds during training. City are expected to assess his condition before determining whether he can feature against AEK Athens.
His potential return would provide a timely boost for the Premier League champions, particularly with the club eager to respond after their previous Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Semenyo was not the only City player to suffer an injury scare against Ipswich. Mateus Nunes, Mateo Kovacic and Nico O’Reilly also came off during the contest, prompting further concerns about the squad’s fitness.
Nevertheless, Maresca offered reassurance that the trio are expected to be available, suggesting that Semenyo is the only player facing a prolonged absence.
“They are more or less all okay. The only one that will be out for probably eight weeks will be Antoine.”
City must now balance the need to secure a crucial European victory with the importance of protecting players who are not yet fully fit.
Asked whether he would be cautious about selecting players carrying injuries, Maresca stressed the importance of Tuesday’s encounter and City’s need to get back to winning ways in Europe.
“It’s a huge game tomorrow.
“Unfortunately, we lost the last one [against PSG] so we need to win games and we are going to try to win the game with our best players in this moment.”
The statement suggests that City will field their strongest available side, although the coaching staff must still weigh the risks of bringing players back before they are ready.
With Semenyo facing a lengthy recovery and Haaland’s availability still uncertain, City’s preparations for AEK Athens have taken on added significance. The medical assessment ahead of kick-off will determine whether the Norwegian can return immediately or whether the club must proceed without him.
For now, the clearest concern remains Semenyo’s knee injury, with City facing the prospect of being without the forward for around two months. Haaland’s progress, meanwhile, offers a potential lift as Maresca looks to guide his side back to winning ways in the Champions League.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
