Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes that striker Roque Santa Cruz could be out of action for the next month with the calf injury that saw him limp out of Saturday's defeat at Everton after only four minutes.
The Paraguayan missed three games over Christmas with the same problem. Mancini does not believe that the problem will require surgery, but he is clearly concerned about the player's absence.
"It is a big problem for us and him," he said, according to Press Association Sport. Santa Cruz's injury means that Benjani is likely to lead the line once more in this week's League Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester United.
Emmanuel Adebayor is currently on compassionate leave after the attack on the Togo team bus at the African Cup of Nations. New signing Parick Vieira is also unlikely to feature against United, according to Mancini.
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