Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has given fans a timeline for the return of defender Nathan Ake after foot surgery.
The middle behind was forced during the rest in the FA Cup victory of last weekend in Plymouth and later underwent an operation to repair a break.
It is the latter in a series of fitness issues in a frustrating campaign for the Dutchman, where the foot problem has been particularly difficult for some time.
Guardiola said at a press conference: '10 weeks, 11 weeks (off), they said to me. When you go for an operation, it is because something has happened wrong.
“But the most important thing is that it is done. He has struggled a lot this season with the problems in his feet. It happens. '
Ake joins the colleague -central station defenders John Stones and Manuel Akanji on the sidelines, both of which will also miss most of the rest of the season with thighs and lies problems respectively.
Injuries have been a recurring theme during the Underwhelming season of the city, in which they fell well from the pace in the Premier League and left the Champions League before the last 16 phase.
After winning the title for the past four seasons, the most important target of City in competition terms now ends in the top four.
She currently celebrated with a crunch test on Saturday while traveling to the third placed Nottingham Forest, who have been one of the surprise packages of the competition this period.
Behind them, the battle is also tight, with the 10th placed Aston Villa only five points eagerly, and Guardiola is realistic about the position of his team.
He said: 'It will not be the end of the world if we are not eligible for the Champions League.
'If it doesn't happen, it's because we have not been good enough and the other teams deserve it. After 38 games it is fair enough. The result is complete.
'We are in the position that is not ideal, but it is not so bad. It's in our hands and we're fighting for that. '
Guardiola expects a tough game in the city, although the form of Forest has fallen lately after three games without a victory.
Guardiola said: 'If you are third in the table after 8-10 games, it is okay – but if it happens with 11 games, and yet you are third, it is because you really, real, really good.
'You can't be there for many months without doing many good things. So it's impressive, I would say.
'They defend really good, aggressive, compact and good in the transitions. They are good with the long balls and the four in front are really good. They create many things. '
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