Sergio Aguero gives reassurance to Manchester City fans over latest injury scare

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has calmed fears over a new injury setback. The 28-year-old striker is currently away on international duty with Argentina and was reported to have suffered a new calf problem after limping out of a training session yesterday (9 October).

Aguero featured for 73 minutes of La Albiceleste's 2018 World Cup qualifying tie against South American rivals Peru in Lima on Friday night (7 October), The visitors, without talisman Lionel Messi, twice took the lead through Ramiro Funes Mori and Gonzalo Higuain only to be held to a second consecutive 2-2 draw courtesy of a second-half effort from Paolo Guerrero and Christian Cueva's late penalty.

The prolific former Independiente and Atletico Madrid forward was subsequently expected to undergo a scan and appeared unlikely to win his 78th cap in Tuesday night's visit of Paraguay to Cordoba. However, speaking in a lengthy interview with Argentine sports daily Ole, Aguero has moved to allay any unfounded concerns that he is set for a spell on the sidelines.

"I am much better," he confirmed. "After the Peru game I had two days to recover and today (yesterday) I played a little football. I'm quite well. Luckily the pain I had in the adductor before the game against Peru is over and due to my intention to protect the adductor I overloaded the soleus. I'm better. We did studies, got well and I'm trying to get as fresh as possible for Tuesday."

When asked to clarify that he was not ruling himself out of that meeting with Paraguay, he added; "No. You want to always play in the team and try to do the best. For now I feel good physically. Within five minutes of the second half against Peru I began to feel fatigue in the soleus, the coach realised and pulled me out. But I am now quite well: you win playing physical, not by training. [Argentina manager Edgardo] Bauza has the decision: for Tuesday I will be available."

While the prospect of Aguero potentially playing again for fifth-place Argentina while carrying a knock may cause some angst among City fans, Pep Guardiola will nevertheless be relieved that he should not miss anymore matches for his club. The former Premier League Golden Boot winner has scored 11 goals already this season in just eight appearances across all competitions, a run that includes two Champions League hat-tricks and top-flight braces against both Stoke and Swansea. However he was sidelined last month after being handed a three-game ban for violent conduct following an elbow on West Ham United defender Winston Reid.

That 3-1 win at the Etihad Stadium proved to be a particularly costly outing for Aguero, who also sustained an initial calf issue that led to his withdrawal from the Argentina squad for qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela. Leaders City, who lost their 100% record under Guardiola with a thrilling 3-3 draw at Celtic followed by an insipid 2-0 defeat to Tottenham, host Everton next weekend before their manager faces a daunting return to Barcelona. They also make the short trip to Old Trafford on 26 October for an EFL Cup fourth-round clash against Manchester United.