Man City rocked as Kompany hobbles off nine minutes after returning from injury
The skipper made his comeback during the Blues' Boxing Day clash with Sunderland, but was forced from the pitch shortly after and his reaction hints at the severity of the problem
Manchester City have suffered an injury blow after Vincent Kompany was forced off with an injury just nine minutes after coming on as a substitute against Sunderland.
Kompany was making his first appearance since November 8, having already missed much of September and October, and his face as he exchanged a few words with Manuel Pellegrini before walking down the tunnel said it all.
The Belgian looked utterly dejected, surely a sign that it is a recurrence of his calf troubles.
He had been out of action since picking up another knock while on international duty with his country, and after starting Saturday's game on the bench it was clear Pellegrini was looking to ease him back into the fold.
But it appears the centre-back got injured almost as soon as he came on. Having struggled to control a pass in his own half he stretched to recover, but while he averted any threat to the City goal he may well have condemned himself to another spell on the sidelines.
Despite not limping initially and staying on the pitch for another seven or eight minutes, he was forced off for Martin Demichelis.
City have struggled defensively without their skipper this season, and Fabio Borini's goal before his introduction here means they are still to keep a clean sheet in his absence.
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