Jamie Jackson
Vincent Kompany is a major doubt for Manchester City’s visit of Reading on Saturday due to the groin problem he suffered in the Manchester derby on 9 December, with Roberto Mancini concerned he could be without his captain for more of the festive programme.
Kompany missed last weekend’s 3-1 win at Newcastle United after limping off in the 21st minute of the derby following which the 26-year-old saw a specialist.
If the injury does prove more serious than City first thought then the concern for Mancini will be whether he recovers before Kolo Touré departs to play for Ivory Coast in the Cup of African Nations after the FA Cup third round tie against Watford on 5 January.
The absence of Touré, currently Mancini’s favoured first reserve centre-back, plus Kompany would leave the manager with only two recognised defenders in the position, Matija Nastasic, who is in his debut season, and Joleon Lescott, now the fourth choice.
After Reading, City’s three other games over the holiday are the trips to Sunderland and Norwich City plus Stoke City’s visit on New Year’s Day.
City could also be without Samir Nasri for their Christmas fixtures, with the midfielder out for up to two weeks with a groin injury. Nasri was forced off in the first half of Saturday’s 3-1 win at Newcastle.
Jack Rodwell is also on the casualty list, with the 21-year-old revealing yesterday that he may be out of action until the new year. Rodwell, a £12 million summer signing from Everton, has endured a difficult start to his career at Eastlands due to injuries.
The England international has made just six appearances for the club and not featured since suffering a hamstring injury in October. Rodwell had returned to training recently but is likely to be kept out a little longer.
“I’ve just had a little bit of a setback with my hamstring injury. It will probably be another few weeks, so I’m looking into the new year,” he told the club’s website.
“I’m doing quite a lot of training at the minute though, so I’m keeping busy. It’s down to strengthening now, so I’m doing a lot of work in the gym and am just getting it right to prevent another injury. It’s been a frustrating start to the season and to my City career, bit I’m focused now and I’m ready to get back.”
