Pep is upbeat despite City’s injury setbacks

BENJAMIN Mendy could be out for up to three months with his latest knee injury, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed.

The France left-back underwent surgery to repair a meniscus problem in his left knee last week.

It is a second major injury setback for the 24-year old since he joined City in 2017 after missing the majority of last season with cruciate ligament damage in his right knee.

Asked if there was yet a timescale for Mendy’s recovery, Guardiola said yesterday: “Ten to 12 weeks.”

Mendy joins team-mates Kevin de Bruyne and Claudio Bravo on the long-term injury list, while Bernardo Silva has been ruled out of the Premier League champions’ trip to West Ham today with a knock.

There is also doubt over whether the Portugal international will be available for Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Lyon.

Guardiola said of Silva: “He cannot play. The injury is not too big but I don’t know if next Tuesday he will be available.”

Guardiola faces his predecessor at the London Stadium today in Manuel Pellegrini. The West Ham boss won the title with City in 2014 before making way for Guardiola two years later.

Guardiola said: “His career speaks for itself in terms of quality. When you see the teams of Pellegrini, you recognise his style.

“He started incredible in Villarreal. After that he went to (Real) Madrid and made a very good league (campaign) with 96 points, but at Barcelona we did 99.

“Here he won the league and helped this club be where we are right now. He is going to do well at West Ham.”