Will Man City Defender Josko Gvardiol Undergo Surgery for His Tibial Fracture?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Josko Gvardiol will have surgery for a tibial fracture.
- The injury occurred during a match against Chelsea.
- His absence compounds Manchester City's injury issues.
- Max Alleyne has been recalled to the squad.
- Gvardiol remains determined to recover and return stronger.
Manchester, Jan 6 (NationPress) - Defender Josko Gvardiol of Manchester City is scheduled for surgery this week following a serious injury to his right leg, having sustained a fracture to his tibia during the recent 1-1 match against Chelsea, as confirmed by the club.
The 23-year-old Croatian international was taken off the field after just 51 minutes at Stamford Bridge. Another center-back, Ruben Dias, also had to exit the game due to injury about half an hour later.
According to the club's statement, “Manchester City FC can confirm that Josko Gvardiol has suffered a tibial fracture to his right leg. The defender will undergo surgery later this week, with ongoing assessments to determine the full extent of the injury and the anticipated recovery timeline.”
The already stretched defense faced further complications when Gvardiol was assisted off the pitch after a challenging collision early in the second half. Additionally, with just ten minutes remaining in regular time, Dias was forced to leave the game while the outcome remained uncertain.
In a heartfelt message on Instagram, Gvardiol expressed, “This is a challenging moment, but it will never define me. I know my identity and my roots. I will fight daily to come back stronger. I will rise again, better than ever.”
To mitigate the growing injury crisis, City has brought back academy player Max Alleyne from his loan at Championship team Watford. The 20-year-old may be part of the squad for the upcoming league match against Brighton.
After the match against Chelsea, when asked about Dias's potential muscle injury, manager Pep Guardiola replied, “Yes, it appears that way. I haven’t had a chance to speak with the doctor, but if Ruben is sidelined, it’s because he felt something. We are facing many injuries. John Stones has been out for several months; Ruben will be unavailable and Josko will also be out.”
“We are aware that Nathan struggles to play consistently. Following last season’s issues, if we remain resilient, we will find solutions and maintain our spirit. If the spirit is strong, we will prevail.”
The draw against Chelsea leaves Manchester City unbeaten in their last ten matches across all competitions, boasting eight victories and two draws. They have climbed back to second place in the league standings but trail six points behind leaders Arsenal.