Top-scoring Brazilian star Robinho has a slight groin strain that will keep him out until the final game of the campaign against Bolton but the news that he will miss the potential Europa League showdown at White Hart Lane has been tempered by the latest medical reports on Academy product Johnson.
The 21-year-old midfielder has played only three times in the Premier League this season - two of them victories - and has not been seen in non-cup action since the last day of August when he featured in the 3-1 win at Sunderland.
Threat
Rumours have been circulating that his career might be under threat from a condition that gives him pain in his groin and back but Blues boss Mark Hughes is adamant that he expects the youngster to be back next term.
"Michael went to see another specialist this week and the view is that he doesn't need surgery," reported the manager.
"The mental side of things is a little bit complicated and there are a lot of issues with regard to the problem but what he needs is rehab on that area of his body.
"It is about lengthening muscles where there is an imbalance at the moment. It is just going to take a period of time for his body to become in line and enable him to play pain-free. That is the latest report that we have had.
"We hope that after an intense period of rehabilitation he will be back for pre-season.
"The pains he was having on his right side have resolved themselves and it is about making sure the balance is right on both sides to enable him to play." Tweet
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I hope this summer will be enough for him to recover; I fear a bit for his city career if he's not back by pre-season. But if he can get back then he can be a huge part of this squad for the next ten years...
thats very good news for Johnson he has suffed so many injury in the last18 months i hope he can keep fit and start buliding his career again and be a key player for us next season
When you look at what has happened to Michael Owen's career it is possibly no bad thing for a younger player not too play too many games too soon.
Look at Ian Wright and Stuart Pearce, they didn't get in to top football until later on and they enjoyed long careers.
the box to box midfielder has been sorley missed!
I hope he makes a full recovery......he could become a great player with City. I do believe that mindset and lifestyle are the key factors with Michael. Hopefully these obstacles will be overcome and he can get back to playing the exquisite type of football we city fans crave for!!!
Sorry to move away from the Michael Johnson story, but I see City are yet again being linked with top players even if it's agent gossip. City are in an excellent position to more or less choose whoever they want. They shouldn't be held to ransom - they should be dictating the price, because clubs with money to blow are very far and few between (look at United). I'd love to see Aguero, David Silva & David Villa at City as these are all top drawer players and I think their signatures are achievable. We also need to strengthen our defence (badly), Yaya Toure would be a good signing. So come on Mark, you're in a position every manager must dream of... so do something about it, because sometimes I get the impression you like looking at classy birds but are just too shy to chat them up !
Quite clearly he is 'work in progress'
The problem with injuries like that is that they create 'knock on effect' injuries, this often happens with fast bowlers in cricket a la Simon Jones, where one injury effectively causes another from the stress it causes the body when compensating the current injury.
I still hold out hope that once he has got the muscle balance back in his hips that it will see the end of this problem as he is a class act and show immense potential.
We have really missed his link between defensive midfield and attack this season. Different campaign had we had him fit! Good look Michael!
Gerrard suffered from very similar problems for several years. He suffered pretty continual hamstrong problems at the same age, and had similar worries over whether his career would go anywhere. He's not done too badly.
What does he mean by 'mental side of things is a little bit complicated'? I had a calf injury for 2 years with dr's and physios saying it was medically fine but killed after running for 10 mins. they kept saying it in my head and i had to run thru the pain.
I gave up in the end and walk to the pub now.
Etuhu, Logan, Schmikes, Evans, Sturridge, Richards and Johnson. Academy grads destined for other Clubs next season IMO. If so, I wish them all the best of luck and much success with their future career's. OK, I'm sorry but try as I might, I cant bring myself to wish Sturridge well. I honestly couldn't care less about that conceited, greedy, self centered...........
jerseyblue, jersey, ive just watched the interveiw in full MH does not say mental its a blip by the muen the word should say muscle. CTID.
Hey Jersey Blue, I lived on the Rock for 10 years. Which pub is it you run to ? Mine was the Soliel Levant on Bath St. in town (is it still there?). 23 years later and I still miss that beautiful 10x12 mile lump of paradise.
Hi M9Lad., ny.
I lived in Beanland for 20 years before coming to Spain 16 years ago. When I was there it was 9 x 5 miles!! I think it still is but maybe the most wonderful city in the world, NY, has given you a different perspective of the world!! If you are in Ben Benson´s, enjoy the steak and have a glass of Zifandel in a toast to the Blues!!1
Take your time Michael; don't hurry back; take another 2 seasons to recover. no problem.
I definately think he can have a future at CITY, and hope he is fit for the whole of next season, so he doesn't get another player gettting signed in his postion and show what he can do. If next season we play 4-4-2 in most of are games, a Centre Midfield partneship of Jonhson and Ireland would work for me, with Kompany slipping into CB.
CTID.
Njinsky Blue, I was a lot smaller in them days (76-86). We appear to have been in the land of Brown Boilers and Broccoli at the same time for a while, where did you hang out? By the by, the best steak in NY hands down is Peter Lugers just over the Bridge in Brooklyn, If it was any fresher and thicker they'd have to ride it to your table.
Fit to see action next season .....for a new club!
Take what we can for him before he does a Micah Richards.... overvalued at £25m for a while then proved to be a shocking player who can't pass, can't shoot, gives away cheap goals and now takes home a kings ransom but is worth less than £2m.
I think Johnson will end up leaving for free either at the end of next season or the season after (he just won't be good enough to get any games)
If a person needs medical treatment they see a doctor! Just because they play football doesn't make a differance! Let their doctor deal with it,operation/recovery/being passed fit to train/play!Mistakes are being made left/right and centre!
If Michael Johnson,Kelvin Etuhu,Bojinov and others had been treated by their doctor the mistakes more than likely would have not have been made!
The most overated water in the premier league, this is NOT good news.
Bad news, so lets get rid of him!!!!!!!!