• Premier League

Silva to only miss a week

ESPN staff
October 19, 2012
David Silva injured his hamstring against France © Getty Images
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Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has issued an upbeat fitness bulletin on David Silva, revealing the Spanish playmaker could be back in action before the end of the month.

Silva was taken off after just ten minutes of Spain's World Cup qualifier with France on Tuesday with a hamstring problem.

There were suggestions Silva could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines - but, although he will miss the crunch midweek clash with Ajax, he is only expected to be absent from one Premier League game: the visit to West Brom this weekend.

Mancini said: "He is not ready for tomorrow [Saturday], and will not be for the Champions League, but we hope for the next game against Swansea."

The Italian had to contend with Joleon Lescott, Joe Hart and James Milner coming back to Manchester later than expected, after England's World Cup qualifier in Poland was put back a day to Wednesday due to bad weather.

"The English players who played on Wednesday are tired but I am not worried, they have another day to recover," Mancini said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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