13 players could miss Man City vs Man Utd after new injury scare on international duty

The international break is winding down, with players returning to their clubs over the coming days ahead of the return of the Premier League this weekend.

Tension will be high in Manchester, with the derby between Manchester City and Manchester United on the horizon at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Both sides have started their season slowly, with Pep Guardiola ’s team in particular difficulties after losing consecutive league games.

City surrendered a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 to Brighton before the international break, following a 2-0 defeat by Tottenham . Guardiola will therefore have been stewing over the break, trying to formula his approach for the derby – but now his plans have been impacted by a fresh injury concern.

Ruben Amorim, meanwhile, went into the break the happier of the two after United picked up their first win of the season against Burnley . Yet that 3-2 win also came at a cost, with two of his players picking up injuries at Old Trafford. Here Mirror Football takes a look at the injured players ahead of the first Manchester Derby of the season.

Omar Marmoush is very likely to be unavailable for City after suffering a knee ligament injury during Egypt’s World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old forward, who had started City’s last two games, was forced off in the ninth minute of his country’s goalless draw in Ouagadougou.

He was injured in a hefty clash in the fourth minute, and although he initially played on after receiving treatment on the field, he had to be replaced. The Egyptian Football Association’s X account wrote: “Omar Marmoush suffers a bruised knee ligament.” He will be assessed upon returning to Manchester, but it’s not looking good for Sunday.

City are certain to be without Rayan Cherki after their summer signing from Lyon was ruled out for two months with a thigh injury, which was confirmed after the Brighton defeat. There are further problems in attack, too, with Phil Foden missing the squad for the Brighton game and Savinho also absent. The club hope both could return this weekend and Guardiola will give an update in his pre-match press conference.

There’s worse news elsewhere though, with Mateo Kovacic and Kalvin Phillips long-term absentees and John Stones another doubt after being forced to pull out of the England squad with a muscle injury.

Abdukodir Khusanov was substituted in the closing stages of the Brighton game with a knock, but is expected to return against United, but Josko Gvardiol is still yet to feature this season.

United have fewer concerns to think about, but Lisandro Martinez remains on the sidelines as he recovers from a long-term knee injury.

Amorim will hope that Diogo Dalot has recovered after pulling out of the Portugal squad with “muscle discomfort”, while the United boss will give updates on the statuses of Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha after they picked up injuries against Burnley .

“We'll check them,” he said post-match. “We need those guys really badly to be competitive.” There have been positive signs from Cunha on social media , who has posted pictures of himself on an exercise bike during the break.

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