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Ilkay Gundogan emerges as a shock striker option for Pep Guardiola as the Manchester City boss reveals Sergio Aguero will have surgery on his injured knee tomorrow
- Sergio Aguero aggravated a knee injury in Manchester City’s win over Burnley
- He will miss all of Premier League season but may return for Champions League
- Pep Guardiola has now confirmed that Aguero will undergo surgery on Thursday
- Aguero flew to Barcelona on Tuesday afternoon and will visit Dr Ramon Cugat
- Guardiola said that Ilkay Gundogan could play up front in Aguero’s absence
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will undergo knee surgery on Thursday, manager Pep Guardiola has said.
City’s record goalscorer limped off shortly before half-time during Monday’s Premier League victory over Burnley at the Etihad Stadium.
No timescale has been put on the striker’s return but he has not yet been ruled out for the Champions League resumption in August.
Sergio Aguero travelled to Barcelona to visit Dr Ramon Cugat for treatment on his knee
The Manchester City striker was injured during his side’s 5-0 victory over Burnley on Monday
Aguero, 32, has travelled to Barcelona for treatment with renowned surgeon Dr Ramon Cugat, who has operated on numerous City players in recent years.
Guardiola said: ‘Tomorrow he is going to make a surgery. Once he has finished the surgery we will know the time Sergio will come back to play with us.’
Asked at a press conference if Aguero would be back for the Champions League games, Aguero said: ‘I don’t know right now.’
Aguero – who is hopeful of proving his fitness before the last-16 tie with Real Madrid – flew to Barcelona on Tuesday afternoon to prepare for the surgery.
In his absence, City have a wealth of attacking players that can take his place – but Guardiola has revealed that he is even considering playing midfielder Ilkay Gundogan up top.
Pep Guardiola (left) confirmed that Aguero is set to be operated on in Barcelona on Thursday
Guardiola has revealed that he may even rely on Ilkay Gundogan (left) to fill Aguero’s void
‘We don’t have any doubts about Gabriel Jesus (playing up-front),’ Guardiola continued at his press conference.
‘No one player can play 90 minutes every three days. Sterling can play in this position, even Gundogan can. We have different options.’
City hold a 2-1 lead from their Champions League first leg at the Bernabeu, with the return game scheduled for August 7 or 8.
The more optimistic prognosis of Aguero’s issue is five weeks but others fear the rehabilitation process may take longer.
City travel to Chelsea on Thursday before an FA Cup quarter-final at Newcastle on Sunday.
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