Manchester City have been dealt another major setback just days before the first Manchester Derby of the season.
Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush has joined the club’s growing injury list and is now a doubt for the high-profile clash with Manchester United.
The Omar Marmoush injury occurred only hours after the striker boldly declared himself a better player than Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and every other African footballer currently playing in Europe.
The 26-year-old, who joined City from Eintracht Frankfurt in the January, had been brimming with confidence ahead of the international break.
When asked recently to name the best African footballer, he wasted no time in putting his own name forward, overlooking Salah’s record-breaking achievements at Liverpool and other continental stars.
Unfortunately for both Marmoush and Manchester City supporters, the forward may not get a chance to prove that claim on the pitch in the coming days.
His injury has sparked concern as Pep Guardiola prepares his squad for one of the biggest games of the season.
Marmoush suffers knee injury, Egyptian FA confirms
The Egyptian Football Association confirmed that Marmoush sustained a knee injury while representing his country in a World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou.
The game had barely settled when the forward picked up the knock. Within the first 10 minutes of the encounter, Marmoush went down following a challenge.
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Although he initially tried to continue, the pain proved too severe, and he was forced to come off early.
It was later confirmed that the injury was a knee ligament bruise, and the forward will undergo further scans upon Egypt’s return to Cairo.
The Egyptian FA released a short update, stating that the player will be closely monitored before a final assessment is made regarding his recovery timeline.
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The news could not have come at a worse time. The Manchester Derby, already considered one of the most heated fixtures on the calendar, is only a few days away, and Guardiola is facing a selection crisis in attack.
Manchester City injury concerns ahead of Derby day
The Omar Marmoush injury is the latest addition to an already worrying list of fitness issues for Manchester City.
The club’s attacking options have been severely hit in recent weeks, forcing Guardiola to shuffle his squad frequently.
Rayan Cherki has been sidelined for six to eight weeks after picking up an injury of his own, while Savinho is still battling for match fitness and has yet to make an appearance for the Cityzens since his arrival.
Phil Foden, meanwhile, has been carrying minor knocks but has managed to feature in some matches this season.
The absence of the Egyptian would further complicate matters, particularly with City expected to field a strong attack against their local rivals.
