Man City hit with Arsenal title race blow as Jeremy Doku injury timeline revealed

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Jeremy Doku is set to be out of action until the New Year due to an injury he sustained last week. The Manchester City winger was absent from their victory over Crystal Palace owing to that issue and will now be on the side-lines for a few weeks.

Pep Guardiola hinted Doku might be fit in time for the Sunderland match on January 1, suggesting the injury isn't too severe. However, City's manager is already preparing for upcoming fixtures against Brentford, West Ham and Nottingham Forest without the fleet-footed Belgium international.

Doku has had his most successful season so far with City, contributing three goals and five assists and starting nine of the last ten matches before this injury. He has previously struggled with muscular injuries in his career and will be hoping to quickly recover from this latest setback.

In Doku's absence at Selhurst Park, Tijjani Reijnders was chosen to join the starting XI, with Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki moving into wider areas. Cherki moved in from the wing to set up Foden for the second goal, helping City secure a crucial win.

The victory was subsequently clinched from the penalty spot in added-time, owing to a swift run into the box by substitute Savinho. The Brazilian, who has only started two of the last ten games - one a disappointing Champions League loss to Leverkusen - will be another player looking to step up in Doku's absence.

"There was an action in Fulham when Savinho went and crossed for Erling to head on to the post and continued, and he didn't run back," said Guardiola.

"He was there - and I told him. Today he lost one or two balls and in two seconds he was a full-back.

"Savinho is going to play a lot of minutes. They know the secret of the team and after the quality of Savinho and the quality of Rayan I don't care, but they have to do the things to make the team stable and try and try.

"That's why Bernardo runs all the time, and Phil runs all the time, and Jeremy is improving a lot. That is the key."

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The Man City boss continued with his praise of the Brazilian winger's defensive work-rate, stating: "Today, I was incredibly pleased for the 15-20 minutes of Savinho.

"Two actions where he lost the ball he was a machine. He doesn't like to listen, but I had to tell him. Because the incredible cross [at Fulham] could have been 6-2 or 6-3, but we lost the ball and you have to work.

"You come from the bench, you have to run double because the other guys are tired. Today he has done it three times like a machine.

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