Manchester City face fresh uncertainty ahead of Sunday’s Premier League derby against Manchester United after Omar Marmoush suffered a knee injury while on international duty with Egypt.
The 27-year-old forward was named in the starting XI for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso but lasted fewer than ten minutes before limping off.
The incident occurred following a challenge in the fourth minute, with Marmoush initially attempting to continue before signalling he could not carry on.
He was replaced by Osama Faisal, who later had a goal ruled out for offside in a match that ended goalless.
Marmoush remained on the bench with visible strapping on his right knee, raising immediate concerns over his availability for City’s crucial upcoming fixtures.
Egypt’s medical team later confirmed that Marmoush had sustained a knee ligament bruise. Further scans were scheduled upon the squad’s return to Cairo on Wednesday morning, with City waiting anxiously for a clearer picture of the damage.
For Pep Guardiola’s side, the timing could hardly be worse. The Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium looms large, followed quickly by their Champions League opener against Napoli and a trip to Arsenal — a sequence of fixtures that will shape the early narrative of their season.
Since his £59 million arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt in January, Marmoush has become a significant figure in City’s attack.
He has registered eight goals in 28 appearances across all competitions and provided Guardiola with a versatile option in the forward line.
His pace and movement have been particularly valuable in opening up compact defences, a trait City may now be without in the coming weeks.
Marmoush’s form in the early stages of the new campaign has reinforced why the club invested heavily in him, and his potential absence would represent a notable tactical setback.
