Aguero’s season could be over after his injury setback, says Guardiola

PEP Guardiola has ruled Sergio Aguero out of Manchester City’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur tonight and cast doubt over whether the Argentine will feature again this season as he struggles to return to full fitness.

Aguero picked up a knee injury in training last month ahead of the victory at Stoke City, eventually returning to action last weekend with a 14-minute cameo in City’s Manchester derby defeat.

The 29-year-old came off the bench again during Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final defeat to Liverpool, but he will play no part in the trip to Tottenham after suffering a setback.

“Aguero is injured,” Guardiola said. “He was injured before the game (against Liverpool) but he made a huge effort to help us for 10-15 minutes.

“That’s why he could not play from the beginning. The people talk a lot, not knowing exactly what happened before the game. He was not ready.”

When asked when City’s alltime leading goalscorer might be able to return, Guardiola suggested that Aguero is also a doubt for Swansea City’s visit to the Etihad on April 22 and may only be ready for “the last games” of the campaign.

“He’s not ready. I don’t know. We cannot forget he was injured for one month,” Guardiola said.

Meanwhile, West Brom’s Jay Rodriguez has been cleared of a charge of alleged racial abuse.

The 28-year-old was accused of using “abusive and/or insulting words which included a reference to ethnic origin and/ or colour and/or race” towards Brighton’s Gaetan Bong during Albion’s 2-0 win in January.