Netherlands defender Nathan Ake was stretchered off the field with a non-contact injury in their Nations League clash against Germany. The Manchester City defender looked to be in serious pain as he was helped to the ground by Dutch teammate Cody Gakpo and Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Ake was in tears as he was stretchered off the field towards the end of the first half. The nature of Ake’s injury isn’t clear, however, it puts his availability for City’s Premier League clash against Brentford on Saturday in doubt.
Since moving to City in August 2020, Ake has missed over 30 games with hamstring injuries. The international break is a time for club managers to sweat out the fitness of their key players, and Pep Guardiola will have a headache after being dealt what could be a serious blow to the Man City defensive ranks.
Ake went down off the ball clutching the back of his left leg, although it was not immediately clear if it was the back of his knee or his hamstring. Whether it was a knee or hamstring issue, the 29-year-old looked in serious pain as he fell to the floor and received treatment on the pitch. Ake was then stretchered off the field shortly before the break, replaced by Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber.
News on the severity of the problem is yet to emerge, but it certainly looked very concerning for the Dutchman given that it was not an impact injury. Manchester City are back in Premier League action on Saturday when they host Brentford, before they welcome Inter Milan to the Etihad four days later. Then comes a huge top flight contest as they take on Arsenal in Manchester on 22 September. Ake would love to be involved in all those contests but he is now a serious doubt for all of them.
The injury concern comes as Manchester City prepare to go into a busy autumn. Ake has been a key figure in Guardiola's setup the last few years, logging a combined 3,900 minutes across the last two Premier League seasons. He is a versatile defender who can play left-back or center-back, or any hybrid role that combines the two. Although the 29-year-old has yet to start any of Man City's first three Premier League matches of the season, he figured to be a critical part of the squad. Guardiola had started the trio of Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and Manuel Akanji in all three Premier League matches thus far, but with City competing on so many fronts this year, there will need to be plenty of rotation at the position.
Ake has dealt with muscle injuries throughout his career. Since joining Manchester City from Bournemouth in 2020, Ake has missed 42 games for club and country due to hamstring or calf injuries, including 21 straight through the middle of his first season at the Etihad. Any time without Ake fit for selection would leave just John Stones as the fourth center-back option, and the England international has himself dealt with injury issues over the last few years.
It’s unclear how severe the injury may yet be, but between the time spent receiving treatment on the pitch and the need for the stretcher to carry him off, there are understandable fears that he could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Ake is the latest big name from the English top flight to suffer an injury in the international break after Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard had to be helped off the field during Norway's 2-1 win over Austria on Monday. Odegaard looked to have rolled his left ankle in a challenge and was writhing in agony on the ground. Speaking after the match, Norway boss Ola Solbakken said: “Martin Odegaard's injury looked bad in the dressing room as well”. Norway team doctor added: “He got a small ankle sprain. We will see, maybe we use ultrasound to look at it. If we are unsure, there will be an MRI tomorrow.” He was later seen boarding a plane on crutches in a worrying sign for Arsenal as they nervously await the results of his scans to determine the severity of his injury.
Gunners summer recruit Riccardo Calafiori was another who returned back to his club in worse shape than he left, picking up a freak injury during Italy's 3-1 win over France. Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa could also join the Premier League's casualty ward after he left England's clash against Finland earlier than anticiated. Konsa took a tumble when a Finnish player clattered into his left leg and required treatment. The centre-back was able to continue playing but lasted only a handful of minutes afterwards and was replaced by Levi Colwill.
City fans will no doubt be hoping for the best for Ake and bemoaned the international break curse striking again. One wrote: “Very unfortunate for Ake. Fortunately for us he was a back up this season so at least we still have our starting backline fit. Speed recovery Ake.” A second simply commented: “This is why I hate international football.” A third added: “When City get injuries, they are always bad ones.” A final user wrote: “International break strikes again.”
More to follow…
