Antoine Semenyo will miss around eight weeks, Enzo Maresca has confirmed, handing City a significant attacking absence ahead of a congested run.

The winger has featured in every one of City's seven Premier League games this term, six of them from the start, contributing two goals and three assists. That consistency makes the lay-off more than a minor inconvenience.

There was better news elsewhere on the fitness front. Maresca described his other recent concerns as 'more or less all OK', offering encouragement over Erling Haaland, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Nico O'Reilly.

AEK arrive for historic Etihad tie

AEK are the visitors on Tuesday evening, with an 8pm BST kick-off at the Etihad. UK viewers can watch on TNT Sports 1, with Willy Delajod of France refereeing and Belgium's Bram Van Driessche on VAR.

The fixture carries a milestone: it will be City's 150th match in the European Cup or Champions League proper. It is also a first competitive meeting with the Greek side.

Maresca's team have three points from their opening two league-phase matches, having beaten Porto 2-0 before a 4-2 home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

AEK's squad includes former Real Madrid and AC Milan striker Luka Jovic, while Croatia international Lovro Majer and Romania midfielder Razvan Marin bring considerable experience at club and international level. Hungary striker Barnabas Varga and Euro 2016 winner Joao Mario are other recognisable figures who could feature.

City's record against Greek opposition offers encouragement: four previous matches against Aris and Olympiacos have produced three wins and a draw, without a single goal conceded.

Appeal outcome looms

Off the pitch, attention turns to the club's appeal against the independent commission's findings. City deny wrongdoing and argue the commission's opinion contains 'clear material errors, of law, principle and fact' and is unsafe.

Jamie Carragher believes a punishment lasting between three and five years should follow if the findings are upheld on appeal.

Sports lawyer James Severn says City must demonstrate a material error of law, principle or fact, or serious procedural unfairness which materially affected the original decision.

Former Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese, a City supporter and honorary president of the club, criticised what he called an 'opaque' process and said that, when asked whether he believed the football club or the Premier League, he believed City.