Man City suffer yet another Premier League title blow as Arsenal and Chelsea watch on

Manchester City have suffered another damaging injury blow in their bid to win the Premier League title with Ruben Dias now set for a spell on the sidelines.

Pep Guardiola's side have endured a horror recent period, winning just one of their last 11 matches and it's a run that has seen them exit the Carabao Cup, get put on the brink of Champions League elimination and drop down the league table.

Many have put City's slump in form down to Rodri's season-ending Anterior Cruciate Ligament tear, while others including Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, Oscar Bobb and Kevin de Bruyne have also struggled with injuries.

Now, Dias, who missed four matches due to a calf issue last month, is set to add to City's woes. The Portuguese defender is expected to be out for the next "three or four weeks", according to Guardiola.

The City boss confirmed that Dias has a muscle problem and is set to miss at least the next four Premier League matches. The FA Cup third round tie against Salford City on Saturday, January 11 would fall within the three to four week timeline, as would the league trip to Brentford three days later.

If Guardiola's schedule is correct, Dias is sure to be back for the clash with Ipswich in mid-January and therefore also fit to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Focusing on the matches that Dias would miss, however, and it's a couple of huge Premier League fixtures as City look to get their season back on track. Starting with a trip to Aston Villa this weekend, Dias would then sit out of matches against Everton, Leicester and West Ham heading into the new year.

With City fifth, three points behind third-place Arsenal, seven adrift of Chelsea in second and nine off leaders Liverpool, Guardiola's side cannot afford too many slip ups and the absence of Dias is no doubt going to be a blow.

However, Guardiola did provide some more positive news with Akanji and John Stones fit to face Villa. It means that Rodri, Bobb and Ake remain as City's absentees ahead of the trip to Villa Park.