Guardiola confirms Laporte will miss 5-6 months after knee surgery

Manchester City will be without defender Aymeric Laporte for the remainder of the calendar year.

Manager Pep Guardiola confirmed Friday that the France international will be sidelined for up to six months after undergoing an operation earlier in September to repair damaged cartilage and the lateral meniscus in his knee.

When asked about how long Laporte will be absent, Guardiola said, "Not long, five months, six months, next year ... January or February."

Laporte suffered the injury during City's 4-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Aug. 31.

The loss of the 25-year-old is a massive blow for a City side that's already short on players at the back - defensive midfielder Fernandinho was forced to play at the back against Brighton in Laporte's absence.

The return of John Stones should help ease the pressure, as Guardiola announced that the England international is available for City's trip to Norwich City on Saturday. Stones had been dealing with a thigh injury that kept him out of action for a month.

Meanwhile, midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is in contention to play after overcoming an illness that forced him to withdraw from the German national team; Forward Gabriel Jesus is close to returning from a hamstring issue that he suffered right before the international break.