Jack Grealish's recent injury has been described as a "big blow" by Man City manager Pep Guardiola, as the English midfielder faces uncertainty regarding his availability for the upcoming Premier League 2024-25 season opener against Chelsea.
Premier League's new season is on the horizon, but defending champions Manchester City's woes have intensified following a couple of injury concerns.
Jack Grealish, who has been an integral part of Manchester City's success since his high-profile transfer from Aston Villa, is likely to be unavailable for the opening clash against Chelsea as manager Pep Guardiola deemed his injury a big blow in a recent press conference.
The nature and extent of the injury have not been fully disclosed, but it is understood to be serious enough to cast doubt over his participation in the immediate future.
Grealish was left off the English squad that lost to Spain in Euro 2024 finals. He also faced several hurdles in City's record fourth title winning 2023–24 season as injuries restricted his starts to just 10 games.
Notably, Jack Grealish was absent from Man City Community shield victory against Manchester United that initially raised suspicion on his participation in the opening round of the new season.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola informed the media that Jack Grealish's injury isn't serious, and he expects the midfielder to be fit enough to participate in the season opener against Chelsea. If not against Chelsea, Grealish will surely make his season debut next week against Ipswich Town at home.
Having said that, Grealish's potential absence is particularly concerning given the significance of the upcoming match against Chelsea. As one of City's key creative outlets, Grealish's ability to drive the ball forward, create chances, and draw fouls has been pivotal in breaking down stubborn defences.
Without him, Guardiola may have to rely on alternative options such as Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, or Rodri to fill the void.
Besides Jack Grealish, Man City will also miss the services of Oscar Bobb who reportedly broke his leg in practice sessions. He is expected to miss the rest of the year, which will, in turn, deplete the City's mid-field depth.
Moreover, Julian Alvarez's transfer to Atletico Madrid will further hurt Pep Guardiola as he is short on impactful midfielders. Hence, it's important for Jack Grealish to regain match fitness as soon as possible to ensure Man City is off to a flying start in the impending PL 2024-25 season.