• Premier League

Aguero to miss Chelsea and Barcelona games

Sergio Aguero has been ruled out of action for up to a month with a hamstring injury and is set to miss key Manchester City games against Chelsea and Barcelona.

The striker suffered the injury during Manchester City's 5-1 win against Tottenham after scoring the opening goal.

He came off before half-time in what he later claimed was a precautionary move after only having only recently returned from a month-long calf problem.

But manager Manuel Pellegrini confirmed on Friday that the damage was worse than Aguero suspected.

City's 26-goal top scorer will not be the only player missing when they face Chelsea in the Premier League on Monday. "The injuries are Samir Nasri, who continues to have treatment, Javi Garcia and Kun Aguero," Pellegrini said.

On Aguero, he added: "Maybe one month but we are not sure now."

In addition to missing the Chelsea league match, the striker is also set to be sidelined for their meeting in the FA Cup fifth round and the first leg of City's Champions League clash with Barcelona.

His chances of featuring in matches against Norwich, Sunderland and Stoke are slim, too, and there could be a doubt about the Capital One Cup final against Sunderland on March 2.

Pellegrini admitted the absence of Aguero, who has scored 10 goals in his last eight games, would be a blow.

He said: "Yes, of course, because he is a top player for us but I think we will replace him. When he could not play for a month, all the other strikers replaced him."

Pellegrini should be able to recall 23-goal forward Alvaro Negredo against Chelsea. The Spaniard, who suffered a shoulder injury in the 3-0 win over West Ham, was an unused substitute in Wednesday's win at Tottenham.

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