'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgf/2gAIAQEAAAAAnQP/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAECEAAAAD//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAEDEAAAAE//xAAfEAADAAEDBQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEAAUhBhESMTL/2gAIAQEAAT8A20QTo2gtsm3WyXRprlGjh0+u3GhlY6ALWAei8M3j7Ov/xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABACH/2gAIAQIBAT8AHb//xAAVEQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARAP/aAAgBAwEBPwAb/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manchester City and Argentina striker Sergio Aguero is likely to have an injury lay-off possibly to the tune of 8 weeks according to reports by Sky Sports. Aguero had to be stretchered off the field with a hamstring injury he suffered on national duty, during the first half of Argentina’s 2-0 defeat to Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday. It was revealed that the Argentine had suffered a grade two muscle tear.
"The studies we did today show that Sergio Aguero has a grade two muscle tear," the Argentine Football Association said in a statement on Friday.
The Argentine FA also ruled out Aguero’s involvement in next week's World Cup qualifier against Paraguay but did not speculate as to how long he would be sidelined for. However, a grade-two tear to the hamstring is known to require anything from two to eight weeks to recover fully.
Aguero has a history of hamstring problems and this is not the first instance he has been sidelined in this particular fashion. He has been victim to hamstring-related problems numerous times during his stint in the Premier League and his career at the Etihad stadium has been increasingly complicated with injuries.
Aguero to miss crucial games for club and country
The prolific Argentinian has been in scintillating form for Manchester City in the Premier League. He has scored six goals in the league already in just 7 appearances for his club including his sensational 5-goal haul against Newcastle United last weekend. He also scored the winner for City against Borussia Monchengladbach to hand them their first points in Champions League this season.
With some crucial games coming up for the Citizens and David Silva also sidelined with injury, Aguero’s injury couldn’t have come at a more critical juncture. He is expected to miss the Manchester derby on October 25 and the Champions League matches against Sevilla on October 21 and November 3.
Aguero is Argentina's fourth highest all-time top scorer and his absence comes at a bad time for his country, who are already missing their injured talisman Lionel Messi and face Brazil in a key World Cup qualifier on November 13.
