Manchester City’s Striker Depth Tested as Semenyo Faces Eight-Week Injury Layoff

Manchester City have been hit by a significant injury setback with forward Antoine Semenyo ruled out for eight weeks due to a knee injury sustained during their recent Championship match against Ipswich Town. The Ghana international was forced off the field prematurely, raising concerns about City's attacking options.

This injury comes at a particularly challenging moment for City, who are already facing uncertainty over the availability of star striker Erling Haaland. Haaland suffered a foot injury during the club’s latest Premier League fixture and remains a doubt for their upcoming Champions League group stage match against AEK Athens, scheduled for Tuesday.

With Semenyo sidelined and Haaland’s fitness in question, manager Enzo Maresca is confronted with a shortage of striking cover. Semenyo was expected to play a key role as a backup for Haaland, especially in European fixtures where squad rotation and tactical flexibility are essential for navigating a demanding schedule.

Maresca has confirmed plans to make changes for the AEK Athens game as City aim to bounce back from a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last Wednesday. The loss has put additional pressure on the squad to secure vital points and regain momentum in their Champions League campaign.

In Semenyo’s absence, Maresca may rely more heavily on versatile attacking players such as Phil Foden and Iliman Ndiaye to fill the void. Both have experience playing in forward roles and could be pivotal during this period when injury issues have depleted City’s striking ranks.

Looking ahead, Manchester City will need to carefully manage their squad amid a congested fixture list. Haaland’s condition will be closely monitored in the coming days, with hopes for a swift recovery. Meanwhile, the extended absence of Semenyo means City must depend on their depth and tactical adaptability to sustain their challenge across multiple competitions.

Source: theguardian.com