Man City suffer Jeremy Doku injury blow ahead of Premier League opener
Manchester City have suffered a significant early-season setback, with manager Enzo Maresca confirming that winger Jeremy Doku will miss the Premier League opener against Bournemouth due to a calf injury. Doku is expected to be out for up to three weeks, leaving City without one of their key wide options as Maresca begins his first league campaign in charge.
Man City hit by Jeremy Doku calf injury on eve of Premier League kick-off
Manchester City’s preparations for the new Premier League season have taken a significant hit, with manager Enzo Maresca confirming that winger Jeremy Doku will be sidelined for several weeks with a calf injury.
Doku ruled out for several weeks
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Maresca explained that Doku felt pain in his calf during City’s most recent pre-season game.
"At the moment the only one out is Jeremy Doku," Maresca told reporters. "Unfortunately in the last game, at half-time, he was complaining about a little bit of pain in his calf. "The idea with him was to play 45 minutes anyway, so the change was planned, but at the moment it looks like two or three weeks, no more than that."
According to Ahram Online’s report, the Belgium international has now been ruled out of City’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth and is not expected to return for up to three weeks.
Timing of the blow
The injury comes just as City are finalising preparations for the start of the 2026-27 campaign, leaving Maresca without one of his key wide options for the opening stretch of the league season.
Ahram Online notes that the calf problem was flagged at half-time of City’s last game, with the initial plan already being to limit Doku to 45 minutes.
While that change was planned, subsequent assessment has confirmed that the winger will need a short spell on the sidelines to recover.
Impact on Maresca’s early plans
Doku’s absence removes a direct, high-tempo option from City’s right flank as Maresca shapes his first competitive line-ups at the club.
The manager has emphasised that Doku is currently the only player ruled out, which underlines how specific – but still significant – this setback is to City’s attacking options.
With the Belgian expected to miss two to three weeks per Maresca’s assessment, City will have to navigate their early league fixtures without his pace and one‑v‑one threat, turning to alternative wide players to fill the gap.
For a new manager seeking early momentum, losing a frontline winger on the eve of the season is far from ideal, and how City adapt without Doku in the opening weeks will be a key storyline to watch as the Premier League campaign gets underway.