Omar Marmoush Injury: Manchester City Forward Ruled Out of Derby, Faces Doubt for Champions League and Arsenal Clash
Story: written by Okafor Joseph September 11,2025
Manchester City have confirmed that Omar Marmoush will miss Sunday’s Manchester derby after sustaining a knee injury while on international duty with Egypt.
The 25-year-old forward featured in Egypt’s recent World Cup qualifiers, scoring a penalty in a 2-0 win over Ethiopia. However, during Tuesday’s goalless draw against Burkina Faso, Marmoush limped off after just nine minutes with a suspected knee ligament problem.
The Egyptian FA revealed that initial scans pointed to a ligament bruise, while City later released a statement confirming his absence from this weekend’s Premier League showdown with Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium.
“Initial results on a scan performed in Egypt indicate he will not be available for the Manchester derby on Sunday,” the club said. “He will now return to Manchester for further assessment and rehabilitation. Everyone at City wishes Omar a speedy recovery.”
Potential Games Marmoush Could Miss
The timing of Marmoush’s injury is a major blow for Pep Guardiola’s side, with the champions entering a packed September schedule across domestic and European competitions.
- Sept 14: Manchester United (Premier League) ❌ ruled out
- Sept 18: Napoli (Champions League) ❓ major doubt
- Sept 21: Arsenal (Premier League) ❓ major doubt
- Sept 25: Huddersfield (EFL Cup) ❓ uncertain
- Sept 28: Burnley (Premier League) ❓ possible return
- Oct 1: Monaco (Champions League) ⏳ target comeback
Depending on the severity, Marmoush could return within two to three weeks if the injury is minor. But a serious ligament sprain or tear could sideline him for several months, with surgery not ruled out in the worst-case scenario.
Injury Concerns Mount for Guardiola
Marmoush is the latest addition to City’s growing injury list. John Stones withdrew from England duty with a muscle strain, while Abdukodir Khusanov missed Uzbekistan’s fixtures due to a calf issue.
The likes of Josko Gvardiol, Phil Foden, Savinho, and Rico Lewis are also nursing fitness concerns ahead of the derby, while long-term absentees Mateo Kovacic (Achilles) and Rayan Cherki (unspecified injury) remain unavailable.
Guardiola faces a tough test against Erik ten Hag’s United, with injuries threatening to derail City’s early-season momentum both in the Premier League and Champions League.
