Man City suffer Ruben Dias injury blow ahead of Liverpool FC match

Manchester City will have to face Atletico Madrid and Liverpool without Ruben Dias as the centre-back still needs time to recover from his hamstring injury. Dias has been out of action for a month, having suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of their FA Cup win over Peterborough.

City doctors initially diagnosed that the player would be out for four to six weeks, and he will not be available to face Burnley this weekend when the Blues return from the international break to continue their pursuit of the Premier League title. Dias still has to convince he is ready to play again, and Guardiola suggested that he could be out for another 10 days to two weeks.

That would rule Dias out of both legs of the Champions League quarter-final and the Premier League game with Liverpool, with the FA Cup semi-final against Jurgen Klopp’s team at Wembley also a doubt. Guardiola suggested that City still had to be cautious with the problem.

“I don’t know, the doctor said four to six weeks I think it’s four,” he said. “March 1, they’ve had four weeks. I think he needs 10 more days or two more weeks.”

John Stones is available to face Burnley, in more positive news for City. The England defender pulled up in the warmup of their international friendly with Switzerland at the weekend, and was sent home as a precaution before the Ivory Coast game.