| Aymeric Laporte left the field on a stretcher during City’s 4-0 win |
Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte will be out “for a while” after suffering an injury in his side’s Premier League game against Brighton.
The 25-year-old collided with Brighton’s Adam Webster in the first half and went down clutching his knee.
He received lengthy treatment before having to be substituted.
Manager Pep Guardiola said: “He is in hospital. It doesn’t look good. Tomorrow we will know. I think it will be a while.”
Laporte was called up to the France national squad this week but could now miss out on his first cap.
His selection for France’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against Albania and Andorra next month was his first call-up since March 2017, and he has yet to make an appearance.
Guardiola says that midfielder Fernandinho could have to fill in at the back. City didn’t sign a defender in the summer despite captain Vincent Kompany leaving the club, while John Stones has missed the last three games with a thigh injury.
“Fernandinho is a holding midfielder, everyone knows it, me included, but I think he has the conditions to play there [centre-back.]
“The problems we have there as a situation, he is going to adapt. He is intelligent, fast, strong in the headers, in the build-up, he has the quality to see what happens in front. He can play in both positions.”
BBC