Kompany out versus West Ham, Aguero fit
MANCHESTER — Vincent Kompany faces a race against time to be fit for Manchester City’s trip to Tottenham after being ruled out of their next two games with a calf injury, although Manuel Pellegrini has said Sergio Aguero is now “100 percent” fit.
Kompany will sit out Saturday’s home game against West Ham and Tuesday’s Capital One Cup trip to Sunderland but could return at White Hart Lane next Saturday.
The City captain came off with 15 minutes remaining in the 2-1 Champions League defeat to Juventus on Tuesday, but despite describing the move as precautionary, he is now set for a spell on the sidelines.
“We will see in the way he recovers his calf,” Pellegrini told a news conference. “I am sure he will not be fit for next Tuesday. We will see for Tottenham.”
Pellegrini has challenged Nicolas Otamendi to ensure that Kompany is not missed against West Ham, with the Argentina international set to come into a defence that is yet to concede a Premier League goal this season.
Samir Nasri will also miss the match against the Hammers, but Aguero is fully fit and ready to start.
The Argentina international was limited to a late cameo against Juve after taking a kick to his knee in last week’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.
“Sergio has recovered,” Pellegrini added. “He is 100 percent fit and will play without any trouble.”
Pablo Zabaleta remains out with a knee injury, while Gael Clichy, who has had ankle surgery, and Fabian Delph, who suffered a hamstring problem playing for England, are all still sidelined.
“Zabaleta, Clichy, Delph, Kompany and Samir Nasri are injured,” Pellegrini confirmed.
Zabaleta is yet to play this season, but while he has been sidelined for longer than was originally expected, Pellegrini hopes the Argentina international will be available again by the end of September.
“Pablo needs at least one week more working with the physio because he cannot kick the ball, but I hope by the end of the month he will be fit,” he said.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.
