• Champions League

Silva 'not able to kick a ball'

David Silva fell awkwardly during City's League Cup tie with Newcastle on October 29 © PA Photos

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David Silva has been ruled out of Manchester City's crucial Champions League game against Bayern Munich as manager Manuel Pellegrini admitted the Spaniard is "not able to kick a ball".

The playmaker has missed City's last three games and will sit out Saturday's match against Swansea. But while Pellegrini hopes the World Cup winner will return to training by the end of next week, he is unsure when he will play again.

"David still feels some pain in his knee, so he's not able to kick the ball," Pellegrini said.

"We'll see if next week he can be ready at the end of the week. It will depend on the way he improves in the next few days.

"He still feels a little pain, but not very hard so I hope in the next week we have good news about David."

City, who have only taken two points from their first four Champions League group games, face elimination if they lose to Bayern at the Etihad on Tuesday.

And they are certain to be without three midfielders for the clash with Pep Guardiola's team as both Yaya Toure and Fernandinho are suspended after they were sent off in the 2-1 defeat to CSKA Moscow.

Pellegrini confirmed that both will start against Swansea on Saturday as he could save players such as Fernando and Frank Lampard, who are eligible to face Bayern.

"Of course, if they cannot play on Tuesday then they will play tomorrow [Saturday]," he added.

Neither Toure nor Fernandinho has found his best form this season and Pellegrini urged them to perform in the manner they did when they helped City become Premier League champions.

He said: "It's a moment for both of them to return to be the best midfielder of the Premier League. Last season, for me, with Silva and [Samir] Nasri, they were very important in the way that we play so I hope that tomorrow, they are in that moment for us."

City skipper Vincent Kompany, meanwhile, has been passed fit.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd