Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic is set to miss the start of the season with an ankle injury.
The 20-year-old Serbia international, who impressed during his first season in England, was carried off on a stretcher in the win over Sunderland in a pre-season Barclays Asia Cup tournament in Hong Kong last month.
He is expected to be sidelined for another four to six weeks with the 2013/14 Premier League games against Newcastle (H), Cardiff (A) and Hull City (H) on August 19, 25 and 31 respectively among the game he could potentially miss.
Nastasic signed a five-year deal with City from Fiorentina in 2012, in a €15m player plus cash exchange that saw Stefan Savic move the other way.
He cemented his place in City’s starting XI, pushing 30-year-old Joleon Lescott out and becoming a fan favourite. There are now consigns over his injury, with the club’s fans already considering the prospect of another summer signing as a precautionary measure.
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