Anderson's cramp scare eases as City turn attention to Palace
Manchester City's 2-1 win over Bournemouth came with a worrying moment when Elliot Anderson limped off after 63 minutes. The midfielder had collided with Bournemouth's Alex Scott and took a knock to his leg, raising fears he could miss Friday's trip to Selhurst Park.
Enzo Maresca, however, moved to calm those concerns after the match. The City boss told reporters he believed Anderson was suffering from a severe case of cramp rather than anything more serious.
Player Ratings v AFC Bournemouth
Season averages"I think it was cramp. There are four or five players who are not 100% and he is one of them."
The quick turnaround leaves little room for recovery. City face Crystal Palace on Friday night, just days after the Bournemouth clash, and will have their fingers crossed that Anderson is available.
Maresca pointed to the broader context of the squad's condition, noting that several players arrived late and only began training with the team ten days ago.
"For them, it's like pre-season. They arrive very late and started working with us 10 days ago. Their effort has been unbelievable."
City's midfield is currently depleted, though that situation is likely to change before the transfer window closes. One player who will be central to whatever City do in the coming weeks is their club record signing, and he showed enough yesterday to suggest he will be a very good player for this side once he is at full fitness.
Whether Anderson is fit enough to feature against Palace remains to be seen, but the early signs are more encouraging than first feared.