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Report: City concerned over Ederson's health ahead of critical stretch

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Things aren't going Manchester City's way, as Pep Guardiola's men have lost four of their nine Premier League games since Dec. 8, leaving them five points off Liverpool's pace at the top of the league. Now, the club is facing a perilous situation at goal.

City is concerned over first-choice goalkeeper Ederson after he suffered an injury during a disastrous surrender of a 1-0 lead at struggling Newcastle United, reports The Telegraph's Sam Wallace. The club will have to stick with the 25-year-old through the fitness concern ahead of a critical stretch due to its lack of depth in goal.

Ederson suffered what was understood to be either a gash or a cut to his leg during the whirlwind at St. James' Park, and City staff considered substituting him minutes before Matt Ritchie scored the winning penalty in the 80th minute, writes Wallace. Apparently, Guardiola even went as far as calling for inexperienced backup Aro Muric before changing his mind.

Muric, who was recalled just a month into a season-long loan at Dutch side NAC Breda due to second-choice stopper Claudio Bravo's Achilles injury, has played five first-team games for City, all of them in the run to this season's League Cup final. However, he's yet to taste Premier League action.

The Kosovo international is the only alternative to Ederson at this point, with Zack Steffen not joining the club until the summer. Despite the lack of options in goal, Guardiola has repeatedly maintained City will not add to their senior squad before Thursday's transfer deadline.

The thought of a green 20-year-old between the posts is undoubtedly more ominous to City than a slightly impaired Ederson, but the Brazilian's fitness will be of paramount concern ahead of a run of games that will make or break City's season.

The defending Premier League champions face Arsenal, Everton, and Chelsea inside of the next 11 days, followed by a subsequent trip to Middlesbrough or Newport County in the FA Cup fifth round on Feb. 16. City will then face the daunting task of the Champions League last-16 first leg at Schalke and the League Cup final against Chelsea in the space of four days later next month.

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