Ake gives Man City new season injury scare as he hobbles off with ankle problem
Nathan Ake has given Manchester City an injury scare ahead of the new campaign after hobbling off in their pre-season clash with Bayern Munich.
Ake last just half and hour of City's 2-1 win over the Bundesliga champions in Japan, giving Pep Guardiola cause for concern as they prepare to defend their Premier League crown.
The Dutchman started the game at the Japan National Stadium, but broke down in the first half following a innocuous collision with Bayern's Kingsley Coman.
Ake went down clutching his right ankle, and although he did return to the field, he struggled to shake off the knock.
Guardiola was quick to respond to Ake's discomfort, taking no chances by removing the defender and replacing him with Manuel Akanji just 30 minutes into the match.
City will hope Ake has suffered no major damage and would have been encouraged by him being able to hobble off the pitch rather than need a use of a stretcher.
The 28-year-old was one of City's most consistent performers last season, as the club completed a historic treble.
He made 41 appearances and scored three goals, in a campaign where he was mostly deployed as a left-back by Guardiola.
Ake's injury could push the club to conclude a deal for Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol, who's has been one of City's top targets this summer.
It was thought they were close to bringing the RB Leipzig centre-back to the Etihad in club record £90m deal, but the German's club chief said earlier this week that no agreement was in place between the two clubs.
Without Ake, Man City still managed to secure a victory over the reigning Bundesliga champions, the second victory in a row on their Asian tour.
James McAtee, who spent last season on loan at Sheffield United, opened the scoring for City.
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