Johnson rests knee injury
10 Oct 2007 - 10:12:00
Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson remains hopeful that midfielder Michael Johnson will not require surgery to cure a nagging groin injury.
The in-form 19-year-old will miss England Under-21s action against Montenegro and the Republic of Ireland in the next few days, with Eriksson hoping a rest will help Johnson regain full fitness.
He told the club's official website: "He's been to see the specialist and for now we think that he's going to have a special injection and hopefully that will be it.
"We are not talking about operating at this moment, so I hope he can start training on Monday, but we are not sure yet.
"He has pain and has done for a long time and of course after training and after matches it's gotten worse and worse.
"I appreciate very much Stuart Pearce, I spoke to him yesterday and we agreed that Michael will not play for the Under-21s.
"That's very good for Michael and it's good for the Under-21s as well, because that means that means almost for sure that he'll be ready for the games in November."
Johnson has helped City make a flying start to the new season, scoring vital winning goals against both Derby County and Aston Villa at Eastlands.
