Saturday 2 January 2016 11:25, UK
Manuel Pellegrini has voiced concerns over Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany’s recurring calf problem but hopes his latest injury is not career-threatening.
Kompany lasted just nine minutes against Sunderland on Boxing Day when he returned from his previous lay-off due to calf injury.
The Belgian suffered a grade two tear against the Black Cats and his current lay-off is his 12th for a calf injury since the start of the title-winning 2011-12 campaign and his third this season.
He has also missed games because of hamstring and groin injuries in recent years and City's medical department want to analyse the problems deeper.
The 29-year-old is expected to miss around a month with his latest setback, but his persistent calf problems have led to questiones whether his career could be in the balance.
"We hope not," said Pellegrini ahead of Saturday's trip to Watford. "We hope that this must be a moment of his career.
"I think that he is a very professional player. He and the club and are going to do all we can to try to help him."
Pellegrini, however, could not rule out Kompany having to deal with the injury for the rest of his career.
"It's difficult for me to answer these questions because I repeat again, I am not a doctor," added the City boss.
"A lot of players at some moments of their career have a bad season for different injuries. I hope this is the part of the season for Kompany and the second part he will be fit.
"If not, of course, I repeat we must try to do everything we can do to try to know why."
Watch Watford vs Manchester City live on Sky Sports 1 on Monday from 5pm
