Pep Guardiola has now confirmed that wing talents Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku will not be available for Manchester City's next Premier League game against Southampton on 26 October. The absence of the aforementioned duo was notably felt in the midweek UEFA Champions League action where Manchester City put on a great show to defeat Sparta Prague 5-0. This emphatic victory underlined not only City's good start to the season but also depth and resilience in their squad, even in the face of injuries to key players. 

Recent Performances and Injuries 

Doku, the Belgian international, was replaced after 66 minutes last weekend in the thrilling 2-1 comeback win against Wolves, one that summed up the tenacity and fighting spirit of City. Grealish, who came off the bench late in that game, will also miss the visit of Southampton. First up to face the media in a pre-match press conference was the manager to update the status of both, confirming that they were injured in that last game. 

Manager's Perception about Timelines for Recovery

Guardiola offered some insight into their situations: "Jeremy [Doku] will be out for a little longer than Jack [Grealish], but both are injured after the last game. I don't know [how long they will be out for]. Hopefully Jack will be maybe one week, 10 days; Jeremy a little longer." That means both players will not only miss the Southampton match but also be sidelined for the EFL Cup tie against Tottenham on October 30. 

Looking Ahead: Possible Return Dates 

There's some reason to be hopeful looking ahead at when they might return. The best Grealish can hope for is perhaps a slight chance of returning to action for their Premier League game against Bournemouth on November 2, while Doku could potentially rejoin for the Champions League game against Sporting Lisbon just three days later. This timeline is important because Manchester City are going to try to have both men back in the fold as soon as possible in order to negotiate the crucial matches heading into the next international break. 

Impact on Team Strategy 

The calendar still remains extraordinarily demanding for City, and the absence of such influential players as Grealish and Doku may affect their tactical configurations immensely. The fact that Guardiola and his coaching staff are going to have to make some strategic changes to replace them, definitely the depth of the squad will be put to test, but City has always shown great capability in adapting to specific circumstances of the past with a reliable roster that usually steps up when it matters most. 

Fixtures and Fans' Expectations 

Besides that, City's final game before the looming international break sees them travel to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on November 9. Given their need for City to keep the momentum flowing in domestic and European competitions, the two statuses of never being underestimated-the returning Grealish and Doku-get back in contention in time for that game and are welcomed with anticipation. Though City faithful now awaits word of their recoveries, it is how the squad copes and delivers in their absence that is going to come into sharp focus. 

Overcoming the Challenges Ahead 

While all the above amounts to quite a setback for Manchester City, the depth in the squad supplemented by Guardiola's tactical acumen offers a glimmer of hope that they might just pull through this testing period. This will be important in the coming weeks, as the players heal and their quest is to keep successful momentum at all fronts. This is something that will, quite frankly, leave fans on tenterhooks: how fast they will return, and how their teammates rise to the occasion.

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