Omar Marmoush is set to miss the Manchester derby due to a knee injury sustained on international duty with Egypt. Credit: Sports Mole
Credit: Sports Mole
Omar Marmoush will miss Manchester City’s derby clash with United on Sunday after suffering a knee injury on international duty with Egypt, leaving Pep Guardiola without a key attacking option as the club awaits further medical assessment.
Omar Marmoush Ruled Out of Manchester Derby as City Await Injury Assessment
Manchester City have confirmed that Omar Marmoush will miss Sunday’s Manchester derby after sustaining a knee injury during Egypt’s World Cup qualifying match against Burkina Faso on Tuesday. The £59m January signing injured his knee just four minutes into the international fixture, received brief on-pitch treatment, but was ultimately substituted in the ninth minute as initial scans in Egypt confirmed his unavailability for the high-stakes derby encounter.
City’s official statement revealed that “initial results on a scan performed in Egypt indicate he will not be available for the Manchester derby on Sunday, and he will now return to Manchester for more assessment and to begin his rehabilitation.” Fabrizio Romano confirmed the injury as a bruised knee ligament, though no specific timeline for the forward’s full recovery has been established by the club’s medical team.
The timing proves particularly challenging for Guardiola’s side, who have endured a difficult start to the season with just three points from their opening three Premier League matches. Marmoush has been integral to City’s early campaign, featuring in all three league fixtures and contributing seven goals and one assist across 19 appearances since his high-profile move from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025.
The injury compounds Manchester City’s existing fitness concerns, with the club already managing a lengthy list of injured key players as they prepare for one of the season’s most significant fixtures. Marmoush’s absence removes a crucial attacking option from Guardiola’s tactical plans, particularly given the Egyptian international’s consistent involvement in City’s forward line throughout the current campaign.
While the club maintains a cautious approach regarding recovery timelines, Marmoush will undergo comprehensive medical evaluations upon his return to Manchester to determine the full extent of his knee problem. The focus remains on proper rehabilitation rather than any rushed return, though his availability for upcoming fixtures beyond the derby remains uncertain pending further assessment by City’s medical staff.
