Pep Guardiola expects to be without the best centre-back in his Manchester City squad for quite a while after confirming Aymeric Laporte won't return from injury until 2020.
Guardiola discussed the knee injury suffered against Brighton & Hove Albion last month and Laporte's subsequent surgery, specifically how long the Frenchman will be on the treatment table, per Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News: "Long. Five months, six months. Next year for sure...January, February."
It's a bleak prognosis, considering Laporte's influence and importance. The former Athletic Bilbao star combines aggressiveness with patience and timing in a way no other City defender can.