Monday 7 December 2015 15:48, UK
Manuel Pellegrini says Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero will not be rushed back into action.
Aguero sustained a heel injury in the 3-1 Premier League victory over Southampton on November 28 and missed the 2-0 defeat to Stoke City on Saturday.
The Argentina international will not feature against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, but Pellegrini is refusing to panic over the 27-year-old's absence.
"He cannot work. He needs time to recover from the problem, but it is not a serious injury, it is a pain injury," the City manager said.
When asked if Aguero would return to training in the coming days, Pellegrini added: "We hope, but we must see how he improves. If he can run, then he will kick a ball, but if he cannot it is very difficult for him to do."
Vincent Kompany has not played for City since the goalless draw with Aston Villa at Villa Park on November 8 because of a calf injury.
The Belgium international is yet to resume training and Pellegrini admits no return date has been set for his influential captain.
He said: "Vincent is improving. He is doing some tests on his calf and seeing what is the best way forward. We will see in the coming days when he will be able to return."
Martin Demechelis, Fernando and Pablo Zabaleta were also absent from training and will not be in contention to face Monchengladbach.
Yaya Toure could feature for City against Monchengladbach, who claimed a 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga at the weekend, after returning to training following a muscular injury.
The midfielder, like Aguero, has not played for City since their victory over Southampton, but is in line to return for his side's final Champions League group match.
City currently sit second in Group D - two points behind Juventus - and will need to beat Monchengladbach to stand any chance of topping the group.
A victory over the German side, coupled with a defeat for Juventus at Sevilla, would see City win the group and avoid a potentially tougher draw in the first knockout round.
And Pellegrini insists City's focus is firmly on securing victory against Monchengladbach.
"We are now thinking about the Champions League. It is important for us to at least do our task and we will see how Juventus get on against Sevilla. After that, we will begin thinking about the next game in the Premier League against Swansea," he said.
"What happened in that game (2-0 defeat to Stoke) we have already analysed with the team and we are thinking about the next game and not in the past."
