City lose Johnson for three months

Manchester City winger Adam Johnson will be sidelined for three months due to an ankle injury, City boss Roberto Mancini has revealed.

Johnson suffered ligament damage to his ankle during midweek training at the Eastlands, and scans have revealed the injury is worse than initially feared.

Speaking after City’s 1-1 draw at Notts County in the FA Cup fourth round, Mancini confirmed that the England international faces a long road to recovery.

“We have lost Adam Johnson for three months,” Mancini told reporters.

“This will be a very big problem because he is an important player. The injury is like the one Aleksandar Kolarov had earlier this season. We do not have another player like Adam.”

Johnson’s absence is a blow to City’s pursuit of league leaders and local rivals Manchester United, as well as Mancini’s attempts to secure a Champions League berth.

It is also bad news for fellow City midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips, who has reportedly had a transfer request denied by the Eastlands club.

Mancini confirmed that City were unlikely to part with Wright-Phillips now that Johnson is unavailable.

“I can understand his position,” Mancini said of his wantaway winger.

“We haven’t had any offers for Wright-Phillips at this moment but it is difficult for Shaun to join another team now.”

“We still have another 24 hours, so anything can happen but it probably affects it.”