Aguero could miss two months of City’s season

LONDON: Manchester City’s record goalscorer Sergio Aguero could be out of action for a further two months, according to manager Pep Guardiola.

The striker has not played since undergoing knee surgery in June.

There had initially been hope the 32-year-old would be fit for the later stages of the Champions League in August but that date passed and the target became the start of the new Premier League season.

However, Guardiola said that Aguero is still yet to return to training and will take time to get up to match fitness.

“We knew that the injury was difficult. In maybe one month or two months he will be ready,” said Guardiola.

“He has to come back on the pitch and regain the physical condition. Sergio was out for a long time and Sergio is not a guy who regains the physical condition quick.” Ater missing out on the signing of Lionel Messi from Barcelona, Aguero’s absence leaves Guardiola with only one fit striker in Gabriel Jesus. City open their Premier League campaign on Monday night looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2019/20 season as they finished 18 points adrit of Liverpool in second place.

Aguero, who is in the final year of his City contract, only featured in 32 matches last season - the lowest number since joining from Atletico Madrid nine years ago. With a truncated season following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a two-month lay-off could see him miss as many as 12 matches including the Premier League clash with champions Liverpool.

But it is hoped that he will return sooner ater he stepped up his ball work earlier this week.

Guardiola is already facing a selection dilemma for Wolves with Aymeric Laporte also unavailable.

The French defender only returned to training on Friday ater self-isolating when he tested positive to coronavirus. Riyad Mahrez also tested positive in recentweeksbutiscontentionforthetriptomolineux.

“Riyad came back four days ago and [Friday] was the first day Aymeric is coming back,” Guardiola said, according to a Goal.com report.

“Riyad will be available, Laporte not yet. Aguero has not made one training session with us.” New signings Nathan Ake and Ferran Torres could make their City debuts against Wolves while Phil Foden is also available ater he broke Iceland’s quarantine rules on international duty with England.

“He’s well, the time I saw him, these three or four days we were together,” Guardiola said. “He knows he made a mistake and that’s all.”