Manchester City could well be without captain Vincent Kompany for the visit of Liverpool at the Etihad this weekend after the Belgium international picked up an injury on international duty.
The centre-back has started the season strongly, staying injury-free and playing every minute of the opening three Premier League fixtures against Brighton, Everton and Bournemouth.
Image: PA
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But, typically, Kompany, who has been plagued by muscle injuries in recent seasons, is a big doubt for the fourth game of the season because of a calf injury.
Staggeringly, the calf injury is the 31-year old's 15th in five years, and according to James Ducker from The Telegraph, was caused as a result of Kompany suffering a blow to the knee during the 9-0 World Cup qualifier blitzing of Gibraltar. The former Hamburg man was absent from the Belgium side that beat Greece on Sunday and has missed training for the past two days following feeling his calf tighten while away with the Red Devils.
If Kompany is indeed unavailable for selection, it's undoubtedly an immense blow to City as they head into their biggest test of the season so far.
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But it's the sort of news that is anything but new to City supporters over the past few seasons. An injury-riddled campaign for Kompany under Pep Guardiola last term was a pivotal factor in City ultimately underachieving, with City's leader, and the defender who brings the best out of everyone alongside him, restricted to just 11 Premier League appearances - and 823 minutes on the pitch in top-flight games.
Image: PA
In 2011/12, when City won their first Premier League title under Roberto Mancini and Kompany was a rock at the heart of the backline, the Belgian played 2774 minutes across 31 games, but gradually his game-time has dropped due to the constant reoccurring injuries
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After another tough campaign last term, he ended the season brilliantly, starting the final seven matches as the Blues finished in third place.
Yet now four games into the new season, he has been hit with injury once again. Here's how fans have reacted to the latest setback:
In his presser today, Guardiola will no doubt be asked to provide an update on whether Kompany is fit for Saturday's early kick-off, with John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, youngster Tosin Adarabioyo and Eliaquim Mangala, who avoided moving on in the summer window, the other centre-back options at the club.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, injury, Vincent Kompany
