Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Jack Grealish will miss their upcoming clash against Manchester United on Sunday, March 3.
The Cityzens are set to host their local rivals at the Etihad Stadium in the highly anticipated Manchester derby. However, they will have to do without Grealish, who sustained an injury during their FA Cup fifth-round match against Luton Town midweek. The midfielder was substituted off in the 38th minute of City’s commanding 6-2 victory.
In a press conference leading up to the Manchester United game, Guardiola revealed that Grealish has suffered a hamstring injury. He stated (via Fabrizio Romano):
“Jack Grealish will not be fit for this weekend. He’s out. When he will come back, I don’t know.”
When questioned about Grealish’s availability for England’s upcoming fixtures during the March international break, Guardiola responded:
“No. I need to speak with [England boss] Gareth [Southgate], I think he will not be fit. He has to recover well. He has had a setback, he has to recover well so we can use him as much as possible.”
Following his substitution in the Luton Town match, Grealish appeared visibly disappointed. Guardiola addressed his demeanor, saying:
“Yes, he doesn’t have an alternative. Setbacks in life are always there, it’s how you overcome them.”
This season, Grealish has faced challenges by his usual standards, managing only three goals and two assists in 27 appearances for Manchester City across various competitions.
