Aymeric Laporte is cracking on with his recovery.
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Manchester City’s star center back has been missing since Aug. 31 with a serious knee injury he suffered against Brighton, which then required surgery.
In that time City have slipped to 11 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, as Laporte’s absence has left a huge hole in the heart of their defense.
Speaking to The National, Laporte is hopeful he will be fit by mid-January.
"[My recovery] is going very well,” “Still I need time but I hope as soon as possible I can come back and play with my team-mates. I can’t say when exactly but more or less one month-and-a-half to two months.”
This is great news for Man City, but it could be a case of too little too late as they hope to win a third-straight Premier League title.
Both John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi have struggled to step up in Laporte’s absence, while midfielder Fernandinho has been their most reliable center back over the past three months.
Following Vincent Kompany’s departure in the summer Man City pushed hard to sign a new center back but were priced out of a move for Harry Maguire and Laporte’s injuries compounded their weakness, probably their only one, in that area of the squad.