Manchester City will be without Antoine Semenyo for about eight weeks, Enzo Maresca confirmed on Monday, as City prepare to host AEK Athens in the Champions League at the Etihad on Tuesday night, with kick-off at 20:00 UK time.
Antoine Semenyo scan brings better news than feared
Antoine Semenyo hurt his knee late in the 3-2 win over Ipswich Town, the result that stretched City’s winning start to the Premier League season to seven games. Scans on Sunday showed the extent of the injury to Semenyo, and Maresca said the club had initially feared something worse. “The only one that will be out for probably eight weeks is Antoine,” he said. “In the first moment we expected an even worse injury so we were more worried. After yesterday’s scan we feel much better because it’s not so big like we expected.”
Maresca added that the focus now is the recovery of Antoine Semenyo, and that when he is back around December “it will be like a new player in terms of energy.” The club’s own report says the rest of the squad, including Matheus Nunes, Nico O’Reilly and Mateo Kovacic, who were asked about, are “more or less okay”.
Haaland a chance to start against AEK
With Antoine Semenyo out, there was encouraging news on Erling Haaland, who took a knock after scoring twice against Ipswich on Saturday. Maresca said he “can be available” for the AEK game, noting that he looked better on Sunday and that the plan would be settled after training. “Replacing Erling is always difficult. We have some different options and we’ll see tomorrow,” he said, and added that the decision partly depends on the game plan.
The club report notes that Antoine Semenyo had been identified as one of the players who could play as a striker to give Haaland a rest, so his absence takes away one of those options just as the question comes up. Whoever plays, City host the Greek side after a 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in their previous Champions League game, and will want the response at home. The club’s report is on mancity.com, including the Antoine Semenyo injury update.
