Guehi and Khusanov withdraw from internationals as City's injury list grows to three

Manchester City are monitoring three defensive injury concerns during the November international break after a 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday left head coach Enzo Maresca with fresh selection headaches.

Marc Guehi asked to be substituted at half-time at the City Ground, and on Monday he withdrew from the England squad, replaced by Newcastle United’s Dan Burn. City have confirmed Guehi will remain at the club during the break to prepare for the Premier League’s return, with a potential comeback against Fulham on 21 November.

Abdukodir Khusanov completed the full 90 minutes against Forest but also withdrew from international duty on Monday, pulling out of Uzbekistan’s friendlies against Russia and Saudi Arabia. The nature of his problem has not been disclosed, though he too is targeting the Fulham fixture as a return date.

Josko Gvardiol, who was dispossessed by Jair Cunha for Forest’s opening goal on six minutes, was also replaced at the interval. Maresca had acknowledged a ‘small issue’ with the Croatian defender in the build-up to the match. As of Monday, Gvardiol had not withdrawn from Croatia’s squad, though his fitness remains uncertain.

City’s defensive troubles were compounded by the manner of the defeat itself. Forest’s second goal arrived on 18 minutes when Elliot Anderson capitalised on a midfield turnover, with Liam Delap driving through the heart of City’s defence before beating Gianluigi Donnarumma. Rayan Cherki pulled one back early in the second half, but Delap completed his brace on the counter-attack as City pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

Winger Antoine Semenyo adds to the longer-term concerns. The 25-year-old sustained a leg injury during City’s earlier win over Ipswich Town and is not expected back until the festive period in December.

All three defenders — Guehi, Khusanov, and Gvardiol — are provisionally targeting the home match against Fulham on 21 November as their potential return date, though City have not placed a firm timeline on any of the trio.