Manchester City signing Benjamin Mendy set to miss start of Premier League season and has been carrying injury for EIGHT months

MANCHESTER CITY will be without new signing Benjamin Mendy for the start of the Premier League season after it was revealed he has been carrying an injury for EIGHT months.

The 23-year-old finally completed his move to the Etihad from Monaco in a £49.3million deal on Monday.

Getty - Contributor

AFP or licensors

He passed a medical but did not feature in City’s 4-1 thumping victory over Real Madrid in Los Angeles in the International Champions Cup.

And afterwards Citizens boss Pep Guardiola revealed to Sky Sports that the full-back has been nursing a thigh injury since Christmas time.

Guardiola said: “Unfortunately he is a little bit injured and is not ready for the next two or three weeks.”

That means that the French international is unlikely to be fit for the opening game of the campaign at Brighton on August 12.

Fellow City new boy Danilo, signed from Madrid for £26.5m earlier this week, was handed his debut during the win over his former employers.

And after an impressive display in the LA Coliseum at left-back, he is now likely to deputise in Mendy’s absence.

AFP or licensors

AFP or licensors

Kyle Walker, the other full-back signed by Guardiola this summer, featured on the right of the defence against the Champions League holders.

And the performances of those two left their new boss buzzing with excitement.

Guardiola said: “Today was good for the confidence of the players, the way we played with intensity and the level of the performance.

PA:Empics Sport

EPA

AFP or licensors

“We want to compete with everyone, our dream is to be more stable and solid. Kyle Walker and Danilo helped us increase our intensity, as will Mendy.

“The result is not important, it’s the way we tried to fight for each and the way we played which is important for our future.”

Keep up to date with all the latest news, gossip, rumours and done deals in SunSport’s live transfer blog