Man City boss Maresca hit with Doku injury blow

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Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca has suffered a blow on the eve of the Premier League season after Belgium winger Jeremy Doku was ruled out for several weeks.

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Doku will miss City’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth with a calf injury and is unlikely to return for up to three weeks.

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The 24-year-old suffered the problem during the first half of City’s 3-0 defeat against Arsenal in the Community Shield in Cardiff last weekend.

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Doku’s absence is a significant setback for former Chelsea boss Maresca as he starts his first season in charge at City after replacing Pep Guardiola in the close-season.

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“At the moment the only one out is Jeremy Doku,” Maresca told reporters on Friday.

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“Unfortunately in the last game, at half-time, he was complaining about a little bit of pain in his calf.

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“The idea with him was to play 45 minutes anyway, so the change was planned, but at the moment it looks like two or three weeks, no more than that.”

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After hosting Bournemouth, Maresca’s side travel to Crystal Palace, then face Coventry before the derby at Manchester United.

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AFP

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