Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan set to miss rest of season with knee injury

Midfielder faces a minimum of five months out after suffering a suspected injury to his anterior cruciate ligament against Watford

Ilkay Gundogan receives treatment after injuring his knee (PA)

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan fears his season is over after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during Wednesday night’s win over Watford.

Gundogan expects to be out for a minimum of five months - and potentially as long as seven months - after a series of tests revealed the damage.

He will undergo further tests on Friday to determine the full scale of the problem, but does not expect to play again this season.

The German suffered the injury when stretching for a challenge against Watford. He attempted to play on but was forced off close to tears.

It is the second serious injury Gundogan has suffered to his right knee this year, after he underwent surgery on a dislocated knee-cap in May, forcing him to miss the European Championship finals in France.

That did not stop City signing him for £21.6m at the start of the season.

After the Watford match City defender Pablo Zabaleta said: “It looks bad. It’s the same knee.

“We feel so sorry for him because it’s been quite tough for him at the beginning of the season.

“He has been working so hard and he was playing well.

“Unfortunately, now it is the same knee. But he has to keep strong and see how bad it is.”

Gundogan has scored five goals in 20 appearances this season and had appeared to be finding his feet after a low-key start at the Etihad.