Pep Guardiola has confirmed that John Stones, Jack Grealish and Mateo Kovacic will all miss Manchester City's Champions League clash with Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday due to injury.
Stones has not played for the Citizens since the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal in early August due to a muscle problem, while Grealish has missed the last two matches with a knee issue, including last weekend's 3-1 victory over West Ham United in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, summer signing Kovacic was unable to represent Croatia on international duty earlier this month due to a muscle complaint in his back, and he subsequently missed the win at the London Stadium.
Guardiola has confirmed that Tuesday's encounter with Red Star will come too soon for all three Man City players, but the Catalan boss is hopeful that they can make a swift return to first-team action.
Responding to questions about all three players at a press conference on Monday, Guardiola said: "I think they are getting better, they are not (ready) for tomorrow.
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"Hopefully for Nottingham [Forest] or next coming games because we need it because we have not a long squad at that moment. But it's what it is."
Guardiola added: "Look how we prove without them in the last games. Hopefully they'll be back soon because we need the competition.
"We need, you know, Jack to compete with Jeremy Doku and how important it is both feeling [they have] to play good to maintain and be in the squad. Otherwise it is difficult to sustain for a long time.
"That's what it is and many things happen and yes we accept it."
Man City are preparing for their first Champions League game since lifting the prestigious trophy for the first time in their history after beating Inter Milan 1-0 in last season's final in June.
Asked if it will be harder to retain their Champions League crown this term, Guardiola said: "Easy, [it is more] difficult to win the first one. Incredible for us [to be] in history. Let's try to win tomorrow, a team who is so aggressive and fast upfront."
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City are joined in Group G by Tuesday's opponents Red Star as well as RB Leipzig and Young Boys, and Guardiola has insisted that his side will approach their favourable-looking group in the same way that they have done in previous group-stage campaigns.
"Every season we start the competition with the first game and always the target is to win the first one, qualify from the group stage, for the last 16 and try to win the Champions League," Guardiola added. "Nothing changes from before when we didn't win it or now we won it last season, nothing changes.
"There's no more [priority] than Red Star tomorrow, it depends on our performance and level what happens. Of course we are incredibly happy to try to defend this crown but this competition won't allow you many mistakes.
"The success we had in group stages is because of the success we had at home. Never miss one shot except in the first year against Lyon (in September 2018).
"Always we are so strong at home, making nine points from nine and when that happens and win just one game away you qualify. Tomorrow is the first step. And hopefully we can continue the players we are serious no matter the opponent and we try to get the first three points."
Man City have made a strong start to 2023-24 since winning the treble last season, winning all five Premier League games as well as the UEFA Super Cup on penalties against Sevilla.
Oliver Thomas
