27 February 2024 , 20:56
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Jack Grealish has been left distraught after being forced off from Manchester City's FA Cup clash against Luton before half-time.
The England international has spent much of the season battling injury, making just seven starts in the Premier League. An issue with his groin has been the attacker's main problem, though he was deemed fit to start the trip to Kenilworth Road on Tuesday night.
But with eight minutes still to go in the first period and with City two goals up, Grealish was substituted after picking up another injury. The Englishman was replaced by Doku and put a coat over his head as he sat down on the bench, with the 28-year-old clearly distraught.
Manchester United legend Roy Keane, who coached Grealish at Villa was sympathetic towards the England star. He told ITV Sport: "You feel for Jack at this time in the season. I've worked with Jack at Villa, he definitely loves the game and it's a setback for him and for City."
Ahead of the game, City boss Pep Guardiola demanded Grealish improve his form if he wants to return to the starting line-up on a regular basis. The Spaniard admitted that Grealish had suffered a setback in his return from his groin problem but still wants him to raise his performance levels.
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“He started a little bit late [for form] but in the last month Jack is back in terms of many things, that’s why he played an important game in the Champions League in Copenhagen. Unfortunately he had a setback [the injury] in 10-15 minutes.
“He played lots of minutes last season and this [season] less in the beginning – it’s the way he has performed. That’s the difference. I said from day one: ‘We need him, he has a special quality for our team.’ It depends on him. Hopefully he can do a good last three months.
Grealish was consoled by team-mate Nathan Ake as he made his way off the pitch (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)“I cannot give three or four games for them to get their rhythm, they have to [find] the rhythm if playing 90 or 20 minutes. At a high level, the team doesn’t wait. "He is the same player, he has the same manager, and the way we play has not changed. It's just the way he has performed. That's the difference."
With Grealish forced off, Doku came on to replace him, though City were already in full control of the game. Erling Haaland scored a first-half hat-trick to allow the visitors to take control of the tie.
Luton were able to hit back on the stroke of half-time, thanks to a wondergoal from Jordan Clark. The two sides are battling for a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, with the draw for that round to be held on Wednesday.
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