City defender Vincent Kompany out for four weeks with injury

Manchester City are looking at another month without captain Vincent Kompany after the defender suffered a second degree tear in his calf during Saturday’s 4-1 Premier League win over Sunderland, manager Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed.

Kompany returned from injury as a substitute on Boxing Day but soon limped off again and faces another three to four weeks out due to a fresh problem with the same calf.

Vincent Kompany’s latest injury setback means he could be sidelined for up to four weeks, according to manager Manuel Pellegrini.

Pellegrini’s side moved to within three points of leaders Arsenal with a point at Leicester while the home side went level on points with the Gunners at the season’s halfway point.

He said: “I said when we lost to Arsenal that we prove a lot”.

Pellegrini has warned his players they must approach Tuesday’s trip to the King Power Stadium as they would any other top-of-the-table showdown.

Despite being third in the Premier League table on 35 points, the Manchester City defence have struggled without the presence of their talismanic captain this season.

“We started the season strongly, but we have not been great over the last 12 games or so”.

“Yes of course, because if we didn’t win the last games that we play away, it is because we must improve”, said Pellegrini.

“I don’t divide the games that we play away or home”. I think at the end of January we will know exactly what position we are in.

Pellegrini believed his City side were the better team over 90 minutes and said it was frustrating not to claim a victory after really pressing ahead with attacking intent. We played very well against Sunderland and against Leicester. Maybe we have to finish a little better, with the important amount of offensive moments we had. “We were calm, tried to do our job and created chances, but so did Manchester City, he added”. It’s not easy but we want to fight everybody. “It’s a miracle what we are doing”.