Nicolas Otamendi is now Manchester City’s only fit senior central defender after Pep Guardiola revealed that John Stones has is out for up to six weeks.
Guardiola said: “John Stones was injured this morning. He will be out for 4, 5, 6 weeks. The problem is muscular.
“It’s a big challenge for me as a manager, with just one central defender, Nico [Otamendi].”
Injury to Aymeric Laporte and a humbling 3-2 defeat at Norwich City have been followed by a muscular injury to Stones.
There had already been talk of how City might reshuffle to cover for Vincent Kompany once it became clear that main central defence target Harry Maguire was not going to join.
This came to the forefront once Laporte, who will be missing with a serious knee injury until the new year, was joined on the sidelines by Stones who might not be available until late October.
But Guardiola refused to be downbeat about the injury blow and was will now look to bring forward contingency plans to face another big injury challenge.
“Fernandinho, and maybe Eric Garcia and Taylor Harwood-Bellis will come forward for the next few months.
“What we will not do is complain. We will have 11 players on the pitch.”
What are Pep Guardiola’s options in central defence with Aymeric Laporte and John Stones injured?
Defeats for Liverpool and Chelsea in the Champions League won’t have affected Guardiola’s plan to get Champions League points on the board, especially after the Norwich reverse at the weekend.
He will target three points and a convincing win to get the club back to winning ways as well as off to a good start in this term’s Champions League.
Fernandinho has been training as a central defender since he returned to the squad in pre-season and will probably become the short term simplest solution for City.
It’s likely that one or both of Eric Garcia (18), and Taylor Harwood-Bellis (17), will become regulars on City’s bench.
And with Joao Cancelo raring to go at right back, Kyle Walker could still be an option as a centre half.
With inexperienced central defensive options at play, City could switch to a back three which could further suit Benjamin Mendy and Cancelo as attacking wing-backs and offer further defensive insurance.
A tactical switch would then see Walker joining Fernandinho and Otamendi as a three man back line which could also offer chances to Garcia and Harwood-Bellis.