Manchester City duo John Stones and Aymeric Laporte could reportedly be on the sidelines for the next two weeks, handing head coach Pep Guardiola a selection dilemma at the back.
Both Stones and Laporte have missed Man City's last three matches through injury, and the former is yet to play a single minute of first-team action for the Citizens this term.
There had been suggestions that both centre-backs would be available for Saturday's key Premier League match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
However, according to The Telegraph, Stones and Laporte are out for the next two weeks, meaning that they will miss the game against Chelsea, in addition to matches against Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool in the Champions League and Premier League respectively.
Nathan Ake has recently been pressed into action alongside Ruben Dias in the middle of the Man City defence, and the pair are likely to start Saturday's encounter with Chelsea.
Man City secured their spot in the fourth round of the EFL Cup courtesy of a 6-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday night.