Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush has been ruled out of Sunday’s derby against Manchester United after suffering a knee injury on international duty.
Marmoush, who joined City from Eintracht Frankfurt for £59million in January, hobbled off after just nine minutes of Egypt’s 0-0 World Cup qualifying draw in Burkina Faso yesterday and scans conducted in Cairo this morning have indicated he won’t be ready for the weekend.
A City statement read: “Manchester City can confirm that Omar Marmoush has sustained a knee injury whilst on international duty with Egypt.
“The City striker suffered the injury in the early stages of Egypt’s World Cup qualifying match with Burkina Faso on Tuesday evening.
“Initial results on a scan performed in Egypt indicate he will not be available for the Manchester derby on Sunday, and he will now return to Manchester for more assessment and to begin his rehabilitation.
“Everyone at City wishes Omar a speedy recovery.”
Marmoush on crutches as he returned to Egypt
Marmoush was spotted arriving back in Egypt using crutches and with his right knee in a brace.
They may have been precautionary measures and City boss Pep Guardiola will hope the 26-year-old is not facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
City have made a mixed start to the new Premier League season. An opening-day 4-0 win at Wolves offered encouragement that last season’s struggles were behind them but they have since suffered back-to-back defeats against Tottenham and Brighton.
United will arrive at the Etihad in marginally better form having taken four points from their first three games, including a 2-0 victory over Burnley last time out.
Guardiola has several injury worries ahead of United’s visit
Marmoush is not the only injury worry for City ahead of the derby.
Abdukodir Khusanov missed Uzbekistan’s internationals with a calf injury while John Stones pulled out of the England squad for the games with Andorra and Serbia due to a minor muscle problem.
Rico Lewis and Nico O’Reilly also withdrew from duty with England Under-21s and summer signing Rayan Ait-Nouri missed Algeria’s games over the international break.
