Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland will require two weeks to recover from a hamstring injury.
Midfielder in race against time for second leg against United
Roberto Mancini has suffered the first setback of his reign as Manchester City manager following the news that Stephen Ireland will require two weeks to recover from a hamstring injury.
The midfielder has been among City's best performers in recent weeks, but he was substituted after just 55 minutes of the 3-0 victory at Wolves after sustaining the problem.
An assessment has now prescribed that Ireland will require a fortnight to recover, meaning he will miss Saturday's FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough and the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final against derby rivals Manchester United.
City then face Blackburn at home in the Premier League on 11th January and Everton away on the following Saturday.
But manager Mancini will hope to have Ireland back for the second leg against United at Old Trafford on 19th January.
It is a blow to Mancini because over the past month Ireland has rediscovered something approaching the form which made him one of the most impressive young players in the country last season.
