Pellegrini confirms David Silva out for up to four weeks

Posted Saturday, November 01, 2014 by Goal.com

The Spain international will miss Sunday's derby with Manchester United and is set for a spell on the sidelines with a knee ligament injury

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says David Silva is out for three weeks with a knee ligament injury picked up against Newcastle in the League Cup.

The Spain international underwent a scan on Thursday after limping off after just nine minutes of the 2-0 defeat to Alan Pardew's side at the Etihad Stadium.

Silva will now miss some crucial games including Sunday's derby against Manchester United as well as the midweek Champions League clash against CSKA Moscow.

"David has a problem in his ligament," the City boss told reporters. "Maybe he will be out around three or four weeks so he will not be available for the derby.

"David is a very important player but we have a squad and we will have to replace him with another player."

However, there was better news for the reigning champions with Yaya Toure expected to be fit to face Manchester United despite being substituted against Newcastle after picking up a groin problem.

The Ivory Coast midfielder is still recovering from the knock, but Pellegrini believes "he will have no problems to play."

City have an excellent record against their local rivals having won the last three Premier League meetings but Pellegrini is expecting a difficult encounter on Sunday.

"On Sunday it will be City v United and last year was the same. It was not me v Moyes and this time it's not me v Van Gaal," he told reporters.

"For supporters it's a special game and we know that. We know what it means to win against Manchester United."