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Bacary Sagna or Fernandinho set for centre-back as Vincent Kompany ruled out until Christmas

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 19: Vincent Kompany of Manchester City receives treatment from the medical team during the Premier League match between Crystal
Image: Vincent Kompany suffered a fresh injury against Crystal Palace last weekend

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has been ruled out for four to six weeks with a knee injury, manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed.

The defender will not play again until City's Boxing Day trip to Hull at the earliest after picking up the knock in the win at Crystal Palace weekend.

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And Guardiola has suggested that either Bacary Sagna, who covered for Kompany at Selhurst Park, or Fernandinho will play at centre-back in his absence.

But the City boss distanced Yaya Toure, who played at centre-back under Guardiola at Barcelona in the Champions League final against Manchester United in 2009, from playing in that position.

Yaya Toure and Pep Guardiola celeb, Crystal Palace v Manchester City
Image: Yaya Toure is unlikely to fill in for Kompany at centre-back, says Pep Guardiola

After Kompany visited a specialist in Spain this week, Guardiola said: "They confirmed what our doctor said. It's a knee ligament. He will be four to six weeks out.

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37 injuries, 878 days out... The numbers behind Vincent Kompany's Man City woes.

"Yaya can play in many positions but I think we have other options to play at centre-back. Fernandinho can play there, Sagna can play there.

"In Crystal Palace, Bacary came in after many weeks out with injury and played as central defender for many minutes.

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Bacary Sagna of Manchester City heads the ball
Image: Bacary Sagna filled in for Kompany at centre-back against Crystal Palace

"What happened in Barcelona happened once, in the final of the Champions League against Manchester United, because we had a lot of problems there, we didn't have players, and he played amazing.

"But, in my mind, Yaya is going to play in more offensive terms, in our build-up in the last third."

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Crystal Palace 1-2 Man City

City travel to Burnley on Saturday and Guardiola could also be without Sergio Aguero, who picked up a knock in the Champions League draw with Borussia Monchengladback in midweek, and Pablo Zabaleta

"Sergio finished, not with an injury, but with a little problem in his foot," Guardiola said.

"He will train at 4pm and today we will know exactly how his condition is going to be, and the condition of the other players. We play tomorrow at 12.30pm and tomorrow we will evaluate their conditions."

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