Manchester City Without Three First-Team Stars For Palace Clash

With Pablo Zabaleta and Bacaray Sagna already missing, it looks as though Fabian Delph will also be forced to sit out City’s next game away to Crystal Palace. 

To see the full extent of City’s injury problems, CLICK HERE

The midfielder was forced to leave the field within a matter of mere seconds during England’s 2-0 win over Switzerland on Tuesday night, after pulling his hamstring. 

Despite manager Roy Hodgson’s assurances that Delph had trained extremely well in the days leading up to the game, this latest injury setback will come as a major blow to the former Aston Villa man, as he looks to establish himself as a first-team regular for the early season Premier League pacesetters. 

Whilst City have unquestionably still got a squad capable of blowing Palace away should they really set their mind to it, the previous loss of two such influential full-backs looks to have forced Manuel Pellegrini into drafting new signing Otamendi in on the flank, rather than his natural position in the centre of defence. 

Delph may not be a pivotal member of the title-chasers side just yet, but his absence could well lead to a sense of frustration for the visitors as a whole, on what is sure to be a tricky afternoon for them in SE25. Should we be able to get at them early on, the tone for the rest of the encounter could be easily set, such is the confidence that is flowing through our group of late. 

Although no one will expect to beat City whilst they are in the midst of their current run, our chances look as good as anyone’s at present. It’ll take a huge amount of graft, but under the guidance of Alan Pardew, it’s difficult to put an upper limit on our collective capabilities.

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