Doku Faces Up To Four Games Out As Maresca Confirms Calf Injury
Jeremy Doku will miss up to four matches after Maresca confirmed the winger is sidelined with a calf problem. The Belgian was forced off at half-time during Sunday's Community Shield defeat to Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium, having complained of pain in his calf.
Maresca was quick to clarify the substitution was always planned, but the injury is real enough to keep Doku out for two to three weeks. "Unfortunately, in the last game, at half-time, he was complaining about calf pain," the head coach said. "[The] idea was that he would come off, the change was planned, and at the moment, [he's out for] 2-3 weeks, no more than that."
The 24-year-old will not be in the matchday squad for this afternoon's Premier League opener against Bournemouth at the Etihad. He is also expected to miss Friday's trip to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park and the home game against newly promoted Coventry City at the start of next month.
That leaves the Manchester derby at Old Trafford in 21 days as a realistic target, though Maresca admits Doku's participation will hinge on his recovery going exactly to plan. Touch and go, in other words.
There is better news elsewhere in the squad. With the exception of Doku, the rest of the first-team group is fit and available. Matheus Nunes, who missed the Community Shield bench amid fitness doubts, has been confirmed back in contention and could return to the starting eleven ahead of Abdukodir Khusanov, who was shifted to right-back against Arsenal.
The absence of Doku is a blow, but the squad depth means the wait need not be a crisis. The derby, though, could come too soon.