Can Man City cope without striker Dzeko following ‘serious injury’?

Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko has sustained a calf injury, suffered in the Premier League draw against QPR, that could see him miss three weeks of action, but how will that affect his club and country?

Fortunately for Manuel Pellegrini, he has main man Sergio Aguero back to full fitness and firing in goals this season, while Dzeko has managed to score just four times in 17 games across all competitions.

However, with 6/1 title chances City in a poor run of form, with just one win in their last six, they will need as many options in attack as possible. Dzeko is likely to miss future upcoming matches against Swansea City, Bayern Munich and second-placed Southampton, with the latter two fixtures particularly important.

Pellegrini does have Montenegro international Stevan Jovetic back, but it seems Dzeko will be more missed for his country…

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s team doctor Reuf Karabeg confirmed: “It’s a very serious injury and requires the kind of treatment whose time-frame rules out a quick return.”

The news led Dzeko’s national coach Safet Susic to surprisingly concede that his side will not win their crucial upcoming Euro 2016 qualifier with Israel in the Sarajevo born and raised player’s absence.

“If Dzeko can’t play we will be resigned to playing for a draw against Israel because we have no hope of winning without him,” Susic said.

That is in contrast to what national captain Dzeko had to say, though: “I am extremely disappointed with the news that I will miss this match but I have faith in my teammates and believe that they have it in them to get a result.”

But while they may be very dramatic and negative words for a boss, Susic does have reason to worry. Bosnia’s other striker, Vedad Ibisevic, who netted against Argentina in the World Cup finals, will also miss out, meaning the nation will have no genuine strikers to call upon.

That could mean that usual wingers Edin Visca and Izet Hajrovic might be used up front in the country’s usual 4-4-2 formation.