City defender Micah Richards will be out for up to 4 months after surgery on a serious knee injury sustained in the second half of the Swansea game last Saturday.
Richards could miss as many as 20 matches while he recuperates following the operation to repair a torn meniscus which forced him off as he tracked back during a Swansea attack.
The England full back was confident of a full recovery despite a lengthy absence.
“I have a brace on it and I am using crutches. I can’t do anything at all for the next four to six weeks and I am probably looking at 12-16 weeks before I am back in action.” said Richards.
“I knew straight away in the game that it was quite a bad injury. The knee locked and I couldn’t straighten it.
“I will be working as hard as I can to get back as quickly as I can and I thank all the fans who have sent their best wishes.”
City have several players on the treatment table at the moment and may have no fit specialist right backs when they visit West Ham although Pablo Zabaleta might be fit to play by the weekend.
Richards will miss the Ajax game next week and Roberto Mancini may regret leaving Kolo Toure out of his Champions League squad if Zabaleta isn’t passed fit by by the time Dutch champions arrive at the Etihad Stadium.