MANCHESTER -- Manchester City will be without David Silva for Saturday's trip to Crystal Palace, manager Manuel Pellegrini has said, while Fabian Delph has been ruled out for at least a month and a half.
Silva has suffered an ankle injury and City now face an anxious wait to discover whether he will be available for Tuesday's Champions League opener against Juventus.
City also go to Selhurst Park on Saturday without Gael Clichy, who has undergone ankle surgery, and Pablo Zabaleta, who is still out with a knee problem.
Blow for #MCFC as @21LVA is ruled out of @CPFC clash. Full story: http://t.co/FMQEsV7Dd9 #palacevcity pic.twitter.com/uSyqFjoz4O
- Manchester City FC (@MCFC) September 11, 2015
Delph is set to sit out games against Palace, Juventus, West Ham, Sunderland, Tottenham, Borussia Monchengladbach, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Sevilla with the hamstring injury he suffered after nine seconds of England's win over Switzerland.
The £8 million signing from Aston Villa had been hurt on his City bow, the 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid in July, and has now suffered another hamstring injury.
"It was very unlucky for him to have the injury but bad things happen," Pellegrini told a news conference. "I think [he will be out for] at least one month and a half.
"The injuries are Pablo Zabaleta, he continues to have the problem in his knee, Gael Clichy, he has surgery in his ankle, Fabian Delph, that has a hamstring injury during the international break. Those are the three and David Silva also has a kick in his ankle."
Silva has begun the season in fine form and Pellegrini is taking a precautionary measure to try to ensure he is fit for the clash with Champions League finalists Juventus.
He said: "He is out for tomorrow [Saturday] and maybe it is a risk for him to take another kick in the same place so it is better for him for rest a couple of days. I hope he will be fit on Tuesday."
The good news for City is that right-back Bacary Sagna, who was substituted while playing for France, has recovered from an ankle knock. "He is 100 percent fit," Pellegrini said.
However, the Chilean is worried because he lacks cover for Sagna and Aleksandar Kolarov, explaining: "Of course I am concerned because it is not normal to have both full-backs injured.
"Also Fabian Delph maybe could replace Aleks Kolarov in that position because he has played there before but we do not have him also so we hope that Bacary Sagna and Kolarov will not be injured this season."