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Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage

Nov 16, 2023 at 5pm UK

Makareio Stadio

Cyprus
1 - 3
Spain

Pileas (75')
Correia (17'), Karo (59'), Kousoulos (77'), Spoljaric (87')

FT(HT: 0-3)

Yamal (5'), Oyarzabal (22'), Joselu (28')
Riquelme (82')

Manchester City suffer Rodri injury scare as midfielder misses Spain game

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter

Published: November 16 2023 | 18:01

Last updated: November 17 2023 | 13:00

Manchester City suffer Rodri injury scare

Manchester City are given a fresh injury scare to one of their first-team players, as Rodri was left out of the Spain squad to face Cyprus in Euro 2024 qualifying on Thursday.

Manchester City have been given a fresh injury scare to one of their first-team players, as star midfielder Rodri was left out of the Spain squad to face Cyprus in Euro 2024 qualifying on Thursday.

After scoring and playing the full 90 minutes in City's 4-4 draw with Chelsea in the Premier League last weekend, Rodri linked up with the Spanish national team ahead of back-to-back fixtures against Cyprus and Georgia.

However, Rodri was notably omitted from Luis de la Fuente's matchday squad for the encounter with Cyprus, and reports in Spain claim that the midfielder has not been risked with qualification for Euro 2024 already secured.

Spanish news outlet COPE states that the midfielder reported a 'discomfort' to the national team's medical staff earlier this week and was subsequently left out of Thursday's matchday squad along with Valencia left-back Jose Gaya.

It remains to be seen whether Rodri will be considered for selection in Spain's final Euro 2024 qualifier against Georgia on Sunday.

Chelsea's Conor Gallagher in action with Manchester City's Rodri on November 12, 2023 © Reuters

Man City will hope that Rodri has not sustained a serious injury as he has proven for some time that he is an invaluable first-team player for Pep Guardiola's side.

The 27-year-old served a three-match domestic suspension between September and October, and his absence was truly felt by the Citizens as they lost all three games against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Arsenal and Newcastle United – the former two in the Premier League and the latter in the EFL Cup third round.

Man City's only win without Rodri in the side this season was when they beat Young Boys 3-0 in the Champions League group stage earlier this month when the midfielder watched on as an unused substitute.

Rodri's injury scare comes after four other Citizens players withdrew from international duty earlier this month due to injury, including fellow midfielder Matheus Nunes who departed the Portugal squad on Wednesday after picking up a muscle problem in training.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola pictured on November 12, 2023 © Reuters

Nathan Ake, who missed City's draw with Chelsea, withdrew from the Netherlands squad last weekend after sustaining an unspecified injury in training.

Mateo Kovacic and Ederson have also pulled out of the Croatia and Brazil squads respectively due to injury and, like Nunes and Ake, have emerged as doubts for City's top-of-the-table clash with Liverpool in the Premier League on November 25.

Meanwhile, versatile defender John Stones is facing "a while" on the sidelines after he picked up a fresh muscle injury against Young Boys last week.

Sergio Gomez has missed Man City's last two matches due to an ankle issue and he is a major doubt for the encounter with Liverpool, while Kevin De Bruyne recently revealed that his recovery from a serious hamstring injury is "going very well", but the playmaker is not expected to return until the New Year at the earliest.