Samir Nasri sidelined for eight weeks with knee injury

Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri is facing around eight weeks on the sidelines with the knee injury he suffered at Newcastle on Sunday.

The 26-year-old France international was carried from the field at St James' Park on a stretcher with his left leg in a brace during the 2-0 Premier League victory over the Magpies with manager Manuel Pellegrini later revealing he had damaged his medial ligament.

Nasri, who was due to undergo a scan on Monday, tweeted: “Thank you everyone for your kind words and overwhelming support, I suppose its kind of good news that I will be out around 8 weeks.”

Nasri was hurt in a 75th-minute challenge by compatriot Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, which earned the Newcastle man a yellow card.

However, Pellegrini later claimed Yanga-Mbiwa should have been sent off for the tackle.

He said: “It’s very serious. It was a very unfair kick and the player of Newcastle, it was directly a red card. I don’t understand why he was not sent off.”

Magpies boss Alan Pardew defended his player and wished Nasri a speedy recovery.

He said: “He made a point in his mind that he didn’t want him to get away, and he was a bit rash in that challenge. He is not like that, though, and I hope Nasri is okay.”

Nasri’s injury marred a good day for City on Tyneside as they left St James’ with a 2-0 victory which took them back to the top of the table.