Aguero two weeks hamstring injury, shortcut for Man U victory
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is likely to be sidelined for two weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in the champions' 3-0 win against Stoke on Tuesday.
This injury is likely to give Manchester United an opportunity to win the English Premier League this season.
Meanwhile, Manchester United kept a firm grip on the Premier League title race by sweeping to a 4-0 win at Wigan Athletic on the first day of 2013 to maintain their seven-point lead.
Champions Manchester City remain United's nearest rivals after a 3-0 success at home to Stoke City, while Tottenham Hotspur climbed to third by coming from behind to defeat second-bottom Reading 3-1 at White Hart Lane.
Javier Hernandez had already had a goal ruled out for offside at the DW Stadium when he put United 1-0 up against Wigan by tapping in after Ali Al Habsi saved from Patrice Evra in the 35th minute.
Robin van Persie got off the mark for the New Year eight minutes later, collecting a pass from Hernandez and sending Ivan Ramis to the turf with a dummy before curling the ball inside the right-hand post.
Hernandez added a third in the 63rd minute, swivelling to dispatch a half-volley when a van Persie free-kick arrived at his feet, before the Dutchman completed a brace of his own in the 88th minute with his 16th league goal.
Aguero was forced to come off moments after scoring a penalty in the 74th minute to put Roberto Mancini's side three goals ahead at Eastlands.
City won't know the extent of the Argentina international's injury until Thursday, but assistant manager David Platt has already ruled Aguero out of the FA Cup third round tie against Watford on Saturday.
Aguero, who was City's top scorer last season and netted the goal that won them the Premier League title, is also doubtful for the crucial league clash at Arsenal on January 13.
"It is difficult to assess an injury like that, how long it is going to be," Platt said.
"He'll certainly be out Saturday and in my experience he'd be doubtful for Arsenal. But there are different degrees of hamstring injuries - that's why we need 48 hours.
"It is not just, 'It's a hamstring and this is how long it will be' - we have just got to wait.
"There will be a lot of swelling and a bit of bleeding in there. We don't know how it is going to settle down."
Aguero's absence will be a blow to City, who are currently seven points behind league leaders Manchester United.
by Sodiq Oyeleke with AFP report
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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