Jack Grealish offers Man City injury update after Real Madrid blow amid second leg hope
It was the latest setback in a season of setbacks as Jack Grealish finally got his chance to prove his worth on the big stage - and then he got injured again.
Grealish had clipped a lovely ball into the run of Josko Gvardiol to help City open the scoring against Real Madrid on Tuesday in easily his biggest start of the season. He has suffered from injury, fitness and form issues this season with every attempt to lock down a place in the team quickly disrupted with another setback.
Tuesday was no different as Grealish signalled to be replaced on the half hour mark and looked devastated as he trudged down the tunnel.
READ MORE: Josko Gvardiol exposes £318m transfer issue that Man City must address
READ MORE: Pep Guardiola could end more Man City careers with defensive comments
Pep Guardiola did not offer an update on Grealish after the game, nor on Manu Akanji who also went off at half-time with an issue of his own.
But Grealish has now offered an optimistic outlook on the issue, saying he 'hopes' the injury is not serious and offered motivation to his teammates for next week's Champions League knockout play-off second leg vs Madrid.
Posting on Instagram, Grealish wrote: "Hopefully the injury isn't too bad and thank you for the support last night. Still all to play for next week."
Grealish and Akanji join Oscar Bobb and Rodri on the injury list after doubtful quintet Ederson, Nathan Ake, Jeremy Doku, Nico Gonzalez and Matheus Nunes all returned to the matchday squad on Tuesday night.