Aguero’s woe may force Mancini into transfer re-think

Aguero fell awkwardly following an early challenge by Nathaniel Clyne.

It was quickly obvious the 
Argentina forward was in considerable pain and although he indicated a desire to continue, medical staff quickly decided the damage to his knee would make it impossible.

Mancini confirmed it will be another 24 hours before the club can make a proper diagnosis.

However, as with all such injuries, the fear is Aguero may have damaged his cruciate ligaments.

“I am worried,” said Mancini. “We don’t know how serious it is because we need to wait maybe two days for the scan. But usually the knee is dangerous.

“The injury was so strange because it was not a bad tackle. It was not strong.

“The good thing was that he wanted to try and play. But at the moment we can’t say anything.”

Mancini conceded that if the worst is confirmed later this week and Aguero is ruled out for an extended period, he may have to change his squad building plans.

He is still hoping to bring in a new face, with strong rumours linking him with Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi, although Mancini said he knew nothing of any developments. “If it is a serious injury (to Aguero) we will probably change our plans,” said Mancini.

“But we need to wait. Maybe it will be one week or three or four weeks, after the international break.”

Samir Nasri fired home the winner 10 minutes from time after Edin Zeko’s equaliser. Southampton had led 2-1 through goals from Rickie Lambert and Steve Davis following Carlos Tevez’s first-half opener. David Silva missed a penalty at 0-0.

Mancini confirmed the absence of Adam Johnson from his matchday squad was to give the former Middlesbrough winger an opportunity to look for another club.

Johnson was at the Etihad Stadium yesterday and trained with a number of team-mates after the match had finished.

However, he has become tired of being a bit-part player with the Blues, although Mancini insisted he has no axe to grind against Johnson. “Adam is a young guy,” said Mancini. “He is a good player and he wants to play.

“In these 10 days, if we find a good solution for him and he can go to play, maybe it is better.

“I don’t know about a loan. We have two or three situations. We are talking with him about this.

“But if he stays here I don’t have a problem.”

Summer signing Eden Hazard played a part in both goals on his Premier League debut for Chelsea in yesterday’s 2-0 victory over Wigan.

The Belgian midfielder was the European champions’ most high-profile signing of the summer, arriving from Lille for a reported £32m in June.

He set up Branislav Ivanovic for the first goal inside two minutes and then won the penalty that Frank Lampard scored to make it two after only seven minutes.