Manchester City Football Club News

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

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

Johnson rests knee injury

10 Oct 2007 - 10:12:00

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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.