Rodri injury: Progress and potential return date for Man City linchpin

A blockbuster Premier League encounter turned on its head after Manchester City saw midfield linchpin Rodri limp off in plenty of discomfort.

City had started their tussle with Arsenal in red-hot form. An Erling Haaland toe-poke handed Pep Guardiola's side an early lead, and it seemed the perennial Premier League champions were going to make an early-season statement against the team that has come closest to dethroning them in back-to-back years.

But Rodri's departure set the stage for a Gunners resurgence. A 1-0 deficit soon became a 2-1 lead, and Mikel Arteta's side came within seconds of claiming what would have been a monstrous win and three points, despite playing the entirety of the second-half with ten men.

It was a performance that would've encouraged Arteta, his squad, and a fanbase seemingly in denial over their team's mastery of a few 'dark arts'. Arsenal proved themselves to be City's equals on enemy territory, and their title aspirations have only been emboldened amid speculation regarding the severity of Rodri's injury.

Here's the latest on Rodri's long-term injury and when he could return to action.

What injury does Rodri have?

Rodri collapsed in a heap and clutched his right knee after attempting to make a front-post run at a corner. He was matched stride-for-stride by Thomas Partey, but the Arsenal midfielder did not make contact with the Spaniard.

Rodri's knee buckled in the turf and he was shown to be in considerable pain while receiving treatment. The Spaniard was forced off which Guardiola hinted post-match was the first sign of just how serious the injury was.

"Rodri is strong. He leaves the pitch in this action because he felt something, otherwise Rodri stays there," he said after the chaotic 2-2 draw. Guardiola did not then know the severity, but reports emerged the following day which suggested Rodri had torn his anterior cruciate ligament.

Speaking after the Carabao Cup victory over Watford, he added: "Still we don't have the definite.

"Will be out for a long time, a while. But there are some opinions that it may be less than we expect.

"Right now I can't tell you. We're waiting on the last phone calls from the doctors. What he has and what type of surgery he has to get.

"I expect [we will find out] tomorrow. Tonight, tomorrow we will know it. The club will inform.

"He's feeling okay, strong. He's just waiting."

City have now confirmed Rodri has suffered a ligament injury to his right knee, though they have not disclosed an expected recovery time.

When will Rodri return from injury?

That will depend on the severity. If the initial reports of a torn ACL are confirmed, Rodri will be sidelined for at least six months.

Players can be out of action for up to a year after full ACL reconstruction. Last season, for example, Arsenal's Jurrien Timber missed almost the entire campaign after tearing his ACL on the opening weekend of the season. He didn't make his second appearance for the Gunners until the final matchday.

The best-case scenario of a six-month absence takes us to the end of March as a potential return date for Rodri. However, there's unlikely to be a major rush for the Spaniard to return for the sake of his career. If he has torn his ACL, he'll most likely sit out for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign.

Who could replace Rodri in the Man City team?

Guardiola described Rodri as "irreplaceable" back in March, but the City boss is going to have to find a way of mitigating the Spaniard's likely long-term absence.

Kalvin Phillips is no longer in town, but City can once again call upon Ilkay Gundogan following his return from Barcelona. The German previously shone in a holding role before Rodri signed for the club, with Gundogan playing a key role in City's 2018/19 title success. The experienced midfielder was also utilised as the deepest midfielder at times down the stretch during the treble campaign.

John Stones has also had success playing in midfield alongside Rodri, but the Englishman has primarily performed a hybrid role which involved moving between the centre of defence and the midfield pivot depending on whether City have the ball.

Can he perform a more traditional #6 function?

Rather than opting for a like-for-like replacement in the 3-1-6 configuration he's opted for at the start of the new season, Pep is more likely to deploy a double pivot ahead of three defenders. Rico Lewis, Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic, and Matheus Nunes are all contenders for increased playing time.

Will Rodri be available for Fantasy Football?

Rodri hasn't always been a Fantasy Premier League favourite but last season he recorded comfortably his best haul for points in a single campaign with 159. That figure was powered by eight goals and ten assists, though eight yellow cards and one red meant his final total wasn't as high as it might have been.

However, the Spaniard was given an extended break after Euro 2024 and had only played 45 minutes of Premier League football before his season was cruelly curtailed in the title clash with Arsenal.

He wouldn't have been in many FPL teams to start with given his absence, but the 1.6% of managers who own him as of late September will need to use their £6.4m elsewhere with Rodri not expected to play again this season.

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