Manchester City suffered a major blow on the eve of the new Premier League season as it was confirmed Jeremy Doku had sustained a calf injury during the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal.
The Belgian played the opening 45 minutes of the contest in Cardiff before he was withdrawn at half-time and replaced by Jack Grealish.
Doku enjoyed his most productive campaign since joining Man City from Rennes in 2023 as he scored eight goals and registered 14 assists in 47 appearances in all competitions. The 24-year-old was rewarded with a new contract in early August, extending his current deal until the summer of 2031.
There is concern that Doku's latest setback is linked to the calf issue he sustained at the end of January which forced him to miss six fixtures during a congested period. His exerts continued in the summer as he featured in five of Belgium's six matches on their path to the World Cup quarter-final.
With Doku set for a period on the sidelines, we've looked at the earliest possible date that he could return to action.
When is Jeremy Doku expected to return from injury?
Ruled out of City's opening Premier League fixture against Bournemouth, the initial diagnosis suggests Doku will be out of action for several weeks.
While the club are yet to confirm the severity of Doku's injury, reports from Belgium suggest the winger will be sidelined until after the September/October international window.
Enzo Maresca's side don't play a fixture for three weeks after the Premier League encounter with Sunderland and they return to action with a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday 11th October.
Barring any setbacks in his rehabilitation, Doku should be on course for a competitive return near to that date.
