CITY MAY HAVE LOST JESUS FOR THE SEASON: PEP
MANCHESTER: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said he does not know if new signing Gabriel Jesus will play again this season after undergoing surgery on a broken bone in his foot.
Jesus was substituted 15 minutes into City’s 2-0 Premier League win over Bournemouth on Monday and had surgery to mend his broken metatarsal in Barcelona.
“Last night he had an operation, it was good, really good,” Guardiola told a news conference on Friday, ahead of his team’s trip to second-tier Huddersfield Town in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday.
“The most important thing now is a good recovery and he is going back when he will be fit. I don’t know if it will be the end of the season or next season.”
His injury means Argentina international Aguero will return to spearhead City’s attack after being dropped to the bench for their past few games. MADRID: Gareth Bale is expected to play for the first time since November when Real Madrid host Espanyol on Saturday in La Liga, coach Zinedine Zidane said on Friday.
The Welsh forward will fortify Real’s attack as they try to go four points clear of Barcelona at the top of the standings. Real have two games in hand.
“Bale will be included in the squad and our idea is that he will be given minutes,” Zidane said a news conference. “He has already been training with us this week and he is looking forward to playing.”
Bale scored seven goals and set up three in 16 appearances for Real before he hurt his right ankle during a Champions League victory at Sporting Lisbon. He underwent surgery in November.
“We know the quality he has, the speed that he brings when he plays in his position,” Zidane said. “We know the damage he can cause to opponents.”
Zidane also said that Spanish forward Alvaro Morata would start against Espanyol. Morata has not started since Dec. 10 and has played 90 minutes in the last seven games.
Real have not lost at home this season in La Liga. They host an Espanyol side that won three in a row before last Sunday’s home defeat to Real Sociedad.