LONDON — The Associated Press Last updated on Tuesday, Sep. 08, 2009 03:07PM EDT
Manchester City will be without striker Carlos Tevez and Robinho is a doubt for the expensively revamped squad's first big test of the season against Arsenal on Saturday.
Tevez sustained a knee injury while on international duty with Argentina, ruling him out of Wednesday's crucial World Cup qualifier against Paraguay.
Tevez will stay in Argentina to receive treatment, but City manager Mark Hughes hopes he will be fit for the following weekend's match against former club Manchester United.
“It was an impact injury, he has twisted his knee but it could have happened in a training session or just walking down the road,” Hughes said Tuesday. “It's part and parcel of the game, we feel it's not going to compromise him too much and that it will only be one game that he has to miss.
“The hope is that he will be OK for the derby, but we will have to determine that when he comes back. He is staying with the national squad because he needs acute treatment at the early stage of the injury, which is what he can get now. Flying him back quickly might compromise the injury.”
Hughes is more hopeful Robinho will recover from the knock picked up while playing for Brazil against Tevez's Argentina on Saturday.
Robinho was due to be assessed by City's medics Tuesday ahead of the Arsenal fixture.
“It's an old injury that he aggravated last year, just above his ankle,” Hughes said. “The hope is that he will be an option for the weekend.
City has started the Premier League season by winning its first three matches without conceding a goal.
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