Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Jack Grealish will miss Sunday's Premier League showdown with rivals Manchester United due to injury.
After missing three games in a row with a groin problem, Grealish was deemed fit to start in the Citizens' 6-2 victory at Luton Town in the FA Cup fifth round on Tuesday.
However, the 28-year-old suffered a recurrence of his groin injury and was withdrawn in the 38th minute at Kenilworth Road where he was visibly upset and consoled by his teammates as he took his seat on the bench.
Grealish is now facing another spell in the treatment room after Guardiola revealed at a press conference on Friday that the attacker will not be involved in Sunday's Manchester derby.
"He will not be fit this weekend," Guardiola told reporters. "When he comes back, I don't know. Setbacks are always there in life, he will overcome it."
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Asked if Grealish will be ready to return for England duty later this month, Guardiola added: "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."
Southgate is soon expected to announce his latest squad ahead of international friendly fixtures against Brazil on March 23 and Belgium on March 26.
As well as the Manchester derby, Grealish is set to miss the second leg of Man City's Champions League last-16 tie with Copenhagen at the Etihad next Wednesday.
Grealish has also emerged as a major doubt for a Premier League trip to title rivals Liverpool on March 10 as well as an FA Cup quarter-final home clash with Newcastle United six days later – City's final match before the international break.
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Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether Josko Gvardiol will be passed fit to feature on Sunday having missed the last six games in all competitions with an ankle ligament injury.
However, Guardiola did state prior to City's win at Luton that the Croatian is "on the verge" of making his return and has been "training without much pain."
Asked if his Citizens squad is feeling much fatigue amid a busy fixture schedule across three competitions, Guardiola said: "Tuesday to Sunday is enough – it's a dream. We've recovered well.
"The problem is Saturday to Tuesday with trips, there is less recovery time. The players were extraordinary against Luton. Two days off, rest, don't see each other, then two days to prepare for the game against United."
Man City, who could find themselves four points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool if the Reds beat Nottingham Forest on Saturday, have put together an 18-game unbeaten run in all tournaments and will be confident of success on Sunday as they have won six of the last eight Manchester derbies, including a 3-0 win at Old Trafford earlier this season.
Oliver Thomas
