Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush is a major doubt for Sunday’s Manchester derby after sustaining a knee ligament injury while playing for Egypt in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso.

The 26-year-old was forced off just four minutes into Tuesday’s match in Ouagadougou following a heavy challenge.

He initially attempted to continue but was unable to shake off the pain and limped out of the contest, raising immediate concerns for both club and country.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) confirmed the nature of the injury in a statement:

“Omar Marmoush’s injury is a bruised knee ligament, and the player will undergo an X-ray upon his arrival in Cairo on Wednesday morning,” the EFA said, adding that further medical tests would determine the severity of the problem and the expected recovery timeline.

Marmoush had been expected to feature prominently in Sunday’s derby at the Etihad Stadium, with City and rivals Manchester United both seeking to ignite their Premier League campaigns after inconsistent starts.

His absence would be a blow to Pep Guardiola, who has already been managing without long-term absentees Kevin De Bruyne and Manuel Akanji.

Since arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt in January for £59 million ($79.8m), Marmoush has made an immediate impact at City, scoring eight goals in 28 appearances across all competitions.

His versatility in the front line and work rate off the ball have made him an important option in Guardiola’s attack, particularly in rotating alongside Erling Haaland and Phil Foden.

For Egypt, the injury comes as a setback in their qualification push. Marmoush has been a regular for the Pharaohs, with his pace and direct running often key to unlocking defences.

His enforced withdrawal disrupted Rui Vitória’s tactical plans in Ouagadougou, where Egypt were held to a goalless draw by Burkina Faso.