Man City first-team star sidelined for a month

“It’s the first time in 12 years of senior football that I’ve ever been injured like this so it’s a blow, especially at the start of the season”, Zabaleta told his club’s official website.

Pablo Zabaleta has yet to feature for Manchester City this season, and he’ll have to wait another month to do so after suffering a knee injury in training.

Zabaleta is hoping to be fit in time for the start of Manchester City’s Champions League campaign in mid-September, but Bacary Sagna is likely to be the only available established right-back until then.

Off-season arrival Fabian Delph returned to training this week and could be back for the Toffees clash on Sunday.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side has made an impressive start to the season, beating West Brom and Premier League champion Chelsea 3-0.

Addressing the media at his weekly press conference, the boss said, “We needed a centre back, we analysed different options and we decided that Nicolas Otamendi was the best option, so here he is”. We did not concede one goal in the last two games.

City will equal a record of nine straight league wins, set in 1912, if they triumph at Goodison Park but Pellegrini said: “It matters to have three more points in the table”. I think he will be a very important player for our team.