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Manchester City were dealt a fresh injury blow with the news that Mateo Kovacic faces a fresh spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

The Croatia midfielder has yet to start a game for the Blues this season having undergone Achilles surgery in the summer.

He recovered from that to take his place in the matchday squad against Burnley in September but his only club minutes have come from the bench against Everton and Villarreal. He did start for Croatia against Gibraltar during the international break, playing just over an hour.

He was not involved against Swansea City in midweek in a match that had been earmarked for his first start and Pep Guardiola confirmed after the Premier League win over Bournemouth on Sunday that the 31-year-old faces an extended spell out of

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