Manchester City lose top scorer Sergio Aguero to injury 'for at least a month'
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Aguero is City's top scorer with his strong recent form helping them to fourth place.
Source:
AP
MANCHESTER City's Barclays Premier League title challenge
has been dealt a blow with top scorer Sergio Aguero out for "at least
one month'' through injury.
However, after opening the scoring in Saturday's 6-3 victory over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, he had to come off in the 49th minute with a calf problem.
"I think he will be at least one month out,'' manager Manuel Pellegrini told a press conference on Monday, ahead of City's League Cup quarter-final tie at second-tier Leicester City on Tuesday.
"He has a calf injury. Maybe the doctor can say exactly how many weeks he will be.''
News of Aguero's absence falls at an inopportune time for City, who face Fulham, title rivals Liverpool and Crystal Palace over the busy festive period.
Aguero also stands to miss league games against Swansea City and Newcastle United, as well as a trip to Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup third round on January 4.
The former Atletico Madrid player has been key to City's impressive early-season goalscoring form, striking up a partnership with new signing Alvaro Negredo that has seen the two players plunder 32 goals between them in all competitions.
Pellegrini is likely to turn to either Edin Dzeko or Stevan Jovetic to deputise in Aguero's absence, although he could elect to field an extra attacking midfielder and deploy Negredo as a lone striker.
Jovetic recently returned to action following a calf injury, but defenders Micah Richards and Matija Nastasic will miss the trip to Leicester due to respective hamstring and calf problems.
"The players that are injured are Micah Richards - he continues to be injured - and Nastasic also, and Aguero,'' Pellegrini said.
"All the other players are available. We will see which 18 players we pick. Jovetic is OK.''
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