Manchester City has been dealt yet another injury scare.
The Premier League champions were forced to replace defender Manuel Akanji midway through the second half after moving to the top of the table with a slender victory over Leicester City on Saturday.
Manchester City earned a hard-fought three points thanks to a stunning Kevin De Bruyne free-kick, as the Sky Blues held off late Leicester pressure to move one point ahead of Arsenal in the Premier League table.
Pep Guardiola was without star striker Erling Haaland for Saturday’s trip to the Midlands due to a foot injury.
De Bruyne scored the game’s only goal in the 49th minute, which was assisted by fellow summer addition Julian Alvarez.
After Jack Grealish was brought down outside the box, the Belgian’s impressive free-kick flew in off the woodwork.
Late in the game, Ilkay Gundogan had a golden opportunity to end the game, but the German failed to get on the end of De Bruyne’s vicious cross.
The Blues’ last away game before the World Cup was on Saturday, but with four more games before the tournament in Qatar, City and Switzerland will be concerned about Manuel Akanji’s fitness, who was forced off after 71 minutes.
The 27-year-old limped away from the King Power Stadium, reportedly in pain in his upper leg.
Akanji has had an outstanding start to life in England, making his ninth appearance of the season this weekend.
The Swiss international completed a £15 million deadline-day move from Borussia Dortmund, after spending four years at the German club.
The defender is also expected to be a part of Switzerland’s squad for the upcoming World Cup, having featured at both the 2018 World Cup and 2020 European Championships for his country.
Switzerland has been placed in Group G, where they will face Cameroon, Brazil, and Serbia in the Middle East next month.
Both Pep Guardiola and Murat Yakin will be sweating on the fitness of Akanji after Saturday’s injury concern.
The Blues are due to face Sevilla in their final Champions League Group Stage match on Wednesday, before hosting Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Fixtures against Chelsea and Everton at the Etihad Stadium also await Guardiola’s side before the campaign pauses.
The city is already without defender Kyle Walker due to injury, although center-back John Stones has recently returned to full fitness.
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