Vincent Kompany injury: Manchester City captain out for another month with new calf setback

Pellegrini insisted he was content with his team’s performance against Leicester, if not their failure to emerge with three points

Vincent Kompany walks off injured past manager Manuel Pellegrini after a recurrence of a calf injury against Sunderland (EPA)

Vincent Kompany faces another month on the sidelines after Manuel Pellegrini confirmed that the Manchester City captain has suffered a new calf injury setback.

Kompany, who missed Tuesday’s 0-0 draw against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, limped out of Saturday’s home win against Sunderland less than ten minutes after being introduced as a substitute.

The Belgian centre-half has started just eight league games all season for City and Pellegrini admits that he will be without the defender for at least 3-4 weeks as a result of his new injury.

“Vincent has an injury, a second degree tear of the calf,” Pellegrini said. “We will see how long he will be out, but I don’t think it will be less than 3-4 weeks.

“I am not a doctor, but with a muscle injury, it will be very difficult for him to be back in less than four weeks.But without him, we must continue to defend as did tonight.”

Although City extended their winless league run away from the Etihad Stadium to six games, Leicester had goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to thank for their point.

And Pellegrini insisted he was content with his team’s performance, if not their failure to emerge with three points.

“I’m not happy because we came here to win the game and for the three points,” Pellegrini said. “We had more possession and attempts than Leicester, but if you can’t win it’s important not to lose against a difficult team like they are.

“I am not happy, but not disappointed, because Leicester are a good team.

“I said when we lost against Arsenal that we improved a lot, but we lost that game, so it is difficult to say you have done well.

“But we are returning to be solid and consistent and it was good to keep a clean sheet after so many games.

“I don’t think you are going to win the title in December. At the end of January, first week of February, maybe we can see who will be the teams involved in the fight for the title.”