Jack Grealish injury update ahead of Man City’s clashes against Real Madrid and Liverpool

Pep Guardiola has shared an update on the fitness of Jack Grealish ahead of Manchester City’s clashes against Newcastle United, Real Madrid and Liverpool.

Grealish has endured another difficult season at the Etihad but had recently refound some form on the left side of attack.

The England hero ended his goal drought in January, finding the back of the net in the FA Cup and Champions League.

He also did brilliantly in the opening stages of the UCL play-off against Real Madrid on Tuesday night, playing a key role in Erling Haaland’s opening goal.

However, the 29-year-old was forced off just 30 minutes into that game with injury, with City going on to lose the first leg at the Etihad 3-2.

It’s now a huge week for the Citizens who host top four rivals Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday, travel to Madrid for the second leg on Wednesday and then take on league leaders Liverpool next Sunday.

One player who will certainly take no part in these games is defender Manuel Akanji who is to undergo surgery for an abductor problem which could rule him out for the rest of the season.

‘He will have surgery on Saturday and eight to ten weeks out. It’s an adductor injury,’ Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

‘I just wish him a speedy recovery because the effort he has put in this season has been unbelievable. Him and Nathan [Ake] have played in difficult positions.

‘There has been a lack of players in that position and his body has said “enough is enough”.’

Guardiola was more positive about the fitness of Grealish and January signing Nico Gonzalez but both will very likely miss the clash against the Magpies.

He added: ‘[Grealish is] not as bad as Akanji. I don’t know if he will be ready tomorrow, I don’t think he will be, but we will assess him in the next hours.

‘Day by day [Gonzalez] he is getting better. He will also be assessed in a few hours.’

Gonzalez was signed for £50million on deadline day and heralded as the much-needed replacement for Rodri in the heart of City’s midfield, but came off injured on his debut in the FA Cup win at Leyton Orient.

City are fifth in the Premier League and defeat to Newcastle could hurt their chances of finishing in the top four, and Guardiola says his side are still struggling with a number of issues.

‘It’s not one subject, if it was then it would be easy to solve it,’ the manager said.

‘We have always been so comfortable with the ball and we are now not so. You then have to rely on a physical presence and our physicality is not like other teams.

‘Every time that we get a result the mood is better in everyone, but this season has been like it has been and we have to try to get results more often.’

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