Manchester City Football Club News

• Nickname:Sky Blues
• Founded:1887
• Manager:Roberto Mancini

• Ground:City of Manchester Stadium
• Capacity:48,000

City lose injured Kolarov

18 Aug 2010 - 13:30:07

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Manchester City could be without Aleksandar Kolarov for a number of weeks after revealing the full-back has an ankle ligament injury.

The £16million Serbian made his debut in Saturday's season opening goalless draw with Tottenham Hotspur where he had to be replaced at half-time.

The former Lazio star has been ruled out of Thursday's Europa League play-off against FC Timisoara.

Fellow defender Jerome Boateng was also not on the flight which left Manchester for Romania on Wednesday morning.

The Germany international is still troubled by a cut to his knee which kept him out of the first game of the new Premier League season.

"I will make maybe two or three changes but we have the players that allow me to do that," manager Roberto Mancini told the club's official website.

"I was pleased with the spirit and the fight at Tottenham. They are a good side that has been together for a long period of time.

"We still need time to gel as a unit. I only had all the players for one day before the match, so I want to see more of them in this tie."

Meanwhile, Mancini has confirmed that England goalkeeper Joe Hart will retain the number one jersey for the European tie ahead of experienced team-mate Shay Given.

He added: "Joe Hart will play. I had a very difficult choice to make before the Spurs game because I have two world-class goalkeepers. It is difficult for one of them to sit on the bench.

"I respect Shay Given a lot. He is a good man and I want him to stay, but I also understand any decision he might make."