Report: Manchester City's Mendy to visit knee specialist

Fears that Benjamin Mendy's knee injury is worse than originally thought have prompted Manchester City to seek advice from a specialist abroad.

Simon Stone of BBC Sport reports the French international is expected to travel to Barcelona where he will undergo further examinations on the knee he injured Saturday during Manchester City's 5-0 win over Crystal Palace.

After manager Pep Guardiola hinted that Mendy might train with the squad Monday, there was no sign of the full-back as City players prepared for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk.

Instead of suiting up for City, Stone says Mendy is expected to visit knee specialist and close friend of Guardiola, Ramon Cugat, to see if any ligaments have been damaged. Cugat has previously treated other City players such as Vincent Kompany, Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin de Bruyne.

The injury occurred in the first half of City's decisive win when Mendy, who arrived in Manchester last summer following a £52-million transfer from AS Monaco, came out on the wrong end of a tackle with Palace's Andros Townsend.

The loss of Mendy for a significant period presents a major dilemma for Guardiola, who is now without a recognised left-back. However, the Spanish gaffer suggested that midfielder Fabian Delph has the ability to fill the void.

"We are going to find a solution," Guardiola told reporters, according to ESPN FC. "(Delph) is a midfield player but he can play left-back. Fabian can help us a lot."