When Man City expect Aymeric Laporte to return from knee injury
By Tom Gott
Pep Guardiola does not expect to see Aymeric Laporte make his return from knee surgery until September at the earliest.
The Manchester City defender had to fight through injury towards the end of last season as Guardiola found himself without Ruben Dias and John Stones, finally undergoing surgery to address his issue during the summer.
Laporte did not travel with City for their pre-season tour as a result of the procedure and Guardiola has warned fans that the 28-year-old will be absent for his side's start of the Premier League season as well.
"Laporte is injured. He had surgery after the last few games when he made an incredible effort," Guardiola said. "He's looking really well but we have to be careful because it was a knee. He needs time. I think he will be out for August and then maybe he will start to be with us in September."
Laporte will miss Saturday's Community Shield against Liverpool and will also miss Premier League games against West Ham, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, with City set to start off September with a trip to Aston Villa.
Tottenham will then come to the Etihad Stadium on 10 September.
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As well as Laporte's injury, Guardiola has minor fitness issues for Dias and Stones to contend with.
Dias has been battling a combination of illness and a hamstring injury and has not played a significant role in City's pre-season, while Stones missed a lot of time with the first team after not travelling for pre-season due to US entry requirements.
Nathan Ake, who was wanted by Chelsea earlier this summer, has been involved and new signing Kalvin Phillips - a midfielder by trade - made his pre-season debut at the back because of City's defensive woes.