Man City news: Medical expert fears repeat of ’10-week’ Jack Grealish injury after update
Jack Grealish is back in training for Man City and could make his comeback against Everton on Saturday night – but there should be caution that his latest injury sidelined him for 10 weeks last term.
So says injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Grealish, who signed from Aston Villa in a blockbuster £100million deal last summer, has missed City’s last three games with a stress-related shin injury.
The 26-year-old suffered a similar problem at Villa last season that kept him out between February and May.
Pep Guardiola told club media last Friday (18 February) that his setback this term was “less severe” but could not put a timeline on his return to action.
Dinnery explained why the nature of the England superstar’s injury makes it difficult to predict exactly when he will make his comeback.
“They need to ease him back into his load and see how he responds,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“Hopefully, the pain and discomfort will dissipate and he can gradually increase that load.
“He needs to be able to go about his business without any pain. It’s one of those injuries that can flare up.
“For the most part, he could be training normally. But when you increase the load nearer a matchday, you get a reaction and have to ease up.
“That’s why it’s very difficult to put a timeline on when he might return. At Villa with a similar injury, they thought they were looking at a week or two.
“But in the end, he was out for 10 weeks or so. There are lots of unknowns. Until you’re training fully, you just don’t know how it’s going to respond.
“Grealish has been managing this for a while. We have seen him put ice on his shin post-match to try and alleviate the pain.
“But it’s a case of rest. Once he is coming through those sessions without any problems, that’s when he’ll be ready to return.”
Grealish has registered three goals and three assists since his move to the Etihad.
City, who have played one more game than 2nd-place Liverpool, are six points clear at the top of the Premier League.
In other news, pundit suggests Raheem Sterling could quit Man City after “massive” contract update.