Manchester City are waiting to discover the extent of Nathan Ake’s injury after the defender was carried off on a stretcher during the Netherlands' UEFA Nations League match against Germany.
The 29-year-old appeared visibly distressed as he received medical support at the Johan Cruyff Arena, having sustained what is reported to be a hamstring injury.
Following the 2-2 draw, Dutch head coach Ronald Koeman said: "It looks like a muscle injury for Nathan, though I am not certain.”
How may absent Ake affect Man City?
Ake has played only two minutes for the champions so far this season, coming on as a late substitute in Man City's 3-1 win at West Ham United in Matchweek 3.
The versatile defender, who can operate at centre-back or at full-back, made 29 Premier League appearances for City last season, scoring two goals.
His involvement in the Premier League this season has been limited after being afforded an extended summer break by Pep Guardiola due to the Netherlands’ run to the semi-finals of UEFA EURO 2024.
See: Latest Premier League injuries
City are yet to overly feel his absence, winning all three matches and conceding only two goals, with Rico Lewis stepping up and Croat Josko Gvardiol continuing to shine at left-back.
The statistics show the champions may be able to cope with a potential lay-off for Ake.
City’s win percentage rises from 70.80 per cent to 76.70 per cent when the Dutchman isn’t starting, with 2.5 points per game averaged without him, compared to the 2.3 won when he is in the team since he made his debut in September 2020.
Man City with/without Ake
| With Ake starting | Without Ake starting | |
| 65 | Games | 90 |
| 46 | Wins | 69 |
| 9 | Draws | 14 |
| 10 | Losses | 7 |
| 57 | Goals against | 70 |
| 0.9 | Ave. goals against | 0.8 |
| 2.3 | Points/90 | 2.5 |
| 7.4 | Shots conceded/90 | 7.2 |
Ake is the latest Premier League player to suffer an injury during the September international break. Man City’s title rivals Arsenal were left with concerns over captain Martin Odegaard and defender Riccardo Calafiori, who picked up injuries while representing Norway and Italy respectively.
Man City face Brentford on Saturday 14 September, before their UEFA Champions League opener against Internazionale Milano four days later.
Where Ake ranks at City
| Ake since 2022/23 | Total | Man City rank |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 56 | 10th |
| Tackles | 53 | 6th |
| Blocks | 12 | =5th |
| Interceptions | 35 | 5th |
| Clearances | 99 | 2nd |
| Duels won | 176 | 8th |
| Recoveries | 215 | 8th |
| Passes | 3,480 | 5th |
| Clean sheets | 11 | =8th |
With an EFL Cup tie against Watford to come on Tuesday 24 September, City's squad depth is sure to be tested as they face seven matches in three competitions over 21 days.
Man City's next five Premier League fixtures
Guardiola is expected to provide an update on Ake when he speaks to the media on Friday.
