Sport Aguero ruled out for two to four weeks, says City boss Guardiola

(Reuters) - Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has been ruled out of Tuesday's Champions League trip to Olympique Marseille through a hamstring injury and could be out of action for two to four weeks, manager Pep Guardiola said on Monday.

© Reuters/PAUL CHILDS Premier League - West Ham United v Manchester City

Aguero was withdrawn at halftime in Saturday's 1-1 Premier League draw at West Ham United with Guardiola confirming the 32-year-old suffered a muscular problem, only a week after making his first start of the season following knee surgery.

"It depends on the injury. We expect 10-15 days for sure minimum, or it could be three weeks or a month," Guardiola told reporters. "When you are out for four or five months with a knee problem, you always have a risk when you come back.

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he had "no problem" with Sergio Aguero being in Amsterdam as he confirmed the striker suffered a broken The Spanish manager said he did not know for how long Aguero would be sidelined, but it is understood an absence of two to four weeks is likely.

Pep Guardiola has said he will continue allowing Manchester City players to travel abroad on days off - despite the broken rib sustained by Sergio I’m not the police.” Following examination by City ’s medical staff it is now hoped that Aguero will only be out for between two and four weeks with his

"We tried to handle it the best as possible, (playing him)50-55 minutes in the games, but it was not enough to maintain it and get him through the games.

"We knew he was not in the best condition against Arsenal but without strikers that we had, it was important that he played 60 minutes. We have to be calm and hope he recovers as quickly as possible."

Guardiola confirmed midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and defender Aymeric Laporte were available for Tuesday's clash in France, while new signing Nathan Ake (groin) and striker Gabriel Jesus (thigh) were edging closer to their return.

"Nathan is so close to come back, Gabriel is 7-10 days to coming back," he added.

City lack an experienced centre forward against Andre Villas-Boas' Marseille in the absence of injured duo Aguero and Jesus.

When asked if the Etihad club could have bought a striker in the close season to add more options, Guardiola said: "Maybe we considered it and thought about it and another type of striker, but we could not.

"You know when you decide to buy a striker they have to be at the level of Aguero and Jesus and we could not afford it. This is the reality."

(Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Chennai, editing by Pritha Sarkar)