Pep Guardiola has revealed Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo will miss the rest of the season with a calf injury.
Bravo, who has endured an inconsistent season since arriving from Barcelona last August, was taken off on a stretcher after sustaining the injury against Manchester United on April 27.
City manager Guardiola has confirmed the problem will keep the Chilean out of his side’s remaining four Premier League matches, with Willy Caballero set to continue against Crystal Palace on Saturday, while third-choice goalkeeper sits on the bench.
However, Sergio Aguero, David Silva and John Stones are all likely to play some part during the run-in as fourth placed City chase a spot in the Champions League.
Aguero, who has a calf injury, and Stones, struggling with a muscle problem, are likely to return against Leicester next weekend, as is playmaker Silva, who has returned to full training after two weeks out with knee trouble.
“Bravo isn’t coming back until next season, John maybe will in the last games,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.
“Sergio is not fit. Hopefully he will be for the next one but for this game, no. He is not fit.
“Yesterday was David’s first training session. I don’t know if he will be ready for tomorrow.
No, after the reaction in the semi-final of the FA Cup, he’s still not perfect.”
Three of City’s final four matches are at home, and they may need to win all four games to ensure a place in next season’s Champions League.
Since winning their first 10 games under Guardiola, City have won four successive matches just once, although that run started with an FA Cup win at Saturday’s opponents Palace in late January.
City have won only eight of their 16 home league games this season, and Guardiola has suggested that their record at Eastlands must improve in order to secure a top four finish.
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