Manchester City defender Nathan Ake has revealed that he is hopeful that his hamstring injury sustained in Wednesday's Champions League clash against Bayern Munich is "not too bad".
Eight days after securing a 3-0 quarter-final first-leg victory over their German counterparts last week, the Citizens completed the job in the second leg despite playing out a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena.
In a frantic contest that saw a total of nine bookings, the dismissal of Bayern head coach Thomas Tuchel and a plethora of opportunities squandered by the hosts, Man City goal machine Erling Braut Haaland broke the deadlock just before the hour mark, netting his 48th goal of the season in all competitions.
Joshua Kimmich converted a consolation goal from the penalty seven minutes from time, and Bayern have been sent packing by the side now managed by their former boss Pep Guardiola, who has guided Man City into the Champions League semi-finals for the third successive season.
In between the two goals, Ake pulled up with a hamstring problem and eventually requested to be withdrawn on the 67-minute mark, with Aymeric Laporte coming on as his replacement.
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The 28-year-old has been one of City's standout performers throughout this season, operating predominantly as a left-back since the January loan departure of Joao Cancelo, who started against his parent club on Wednesday.
Ake has now emerged as a major doubt for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United at Wembley, while there are also concerns over his fitness ahead of next Wednesday's Premier League title showdown with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.
The Netherlands international has confirmed that he came off with a hamstring injury against Bayern, but is hopeful that the issue is not a serious one heading into an important period of City's season.
Speaking to Sky Sports reporter Ben Ransom after the game, Ake said: "I've had it before and it feels a little bit less to be honest, but you never know with these things, so we will do the ultrasounds and stuff tomorrow and then hopefully it's not too bad."
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Ake has made a total of 36 appearances for the Citizens across all tournaments so far this season and has scored twice, including a strike in the 1-0 FA Cup fourth-round win over Arsenal in January.
The potential absence of Ake could see fellow left-footed defender Aymeric Laporte handed a start at left-back against Sheffield United.
Teenage full-back Rico Lewis, who started at left-back in a 1-0 Premier League defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in February, is also an option for Guardiola.
Before the draw with Bayern, City were boosted by the return of Phil Foden, who returned to the matchday squad after recovering from appendix surgery at the end of last month.
Nevertheless, Guardiola has admitted that he has concerns over whether his "exhausted" Citizens side will recover in time for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final amid their hectic fixture schedule across three different competitions.
Oliver Thomas
