Manchester City could well be without their captain Vincent Kompany for the rest of the Premier League season.
After four defeats in their last six games, City have slipped from title contenders to a battle to stay in the top four with the likes of Liverpool, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur piling up behind them.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, manager Manuel Pellegrini confirmed that Kompany suffered more damage to a reoccurring groin injury during City’s 4-2 derby defeat to Manchester United last Sunday and is unsure when the Belgian defender will return.
“He has a muscle injury, we don’t know how long,” Pellegrini said. “We don’t know if he will be fit before the end of the season.”
Kompany, 29, re-injured his groin after making a lunging tackle on United’s Daley Blind last weekend and was replaced at half time of that match by Eliaquim Mangala.
City face West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday (Watch live, 8:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN and online via Live Extra) and desperately need a win to solidify their spot in the top four. They have lost four away games on the trot and must turn things around quickly if they want to compete in the UEFA Champions League next season. However with the possibility of not having their leader and best defensive player available between now and the end of the season a top four finish just became a lot tougher to seal for the Citizens.