Captain Vincent Kompany is set to miss Manchester City’s crunch meeting with Newcastle United this weekend.
The Belgium international has missed City’s past four matches with the calf injury he picked up in the Champions League defeat to Juventus a fortnight ago.
During Kompany’s absence, City have shipped eight goals in their two wins and two defeats, which includes a 4-1 loss at Tottenham last Saturday.
The centre-back was set to return as a second-half sub at White Hart Lane but aggravated the problem during the warm-up and will take no part in Saturday’s home clash with the Magpies, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Kompany’s influence has been missed by City who have used Argentine pair Nicolas Otamendi and Martin Demichelis in place of the skipper and Frenchman Eliaquim Mangala who is also suffering from injury.