Rodri Injury Update: Latest Details, Recovery Timeline, and Impact on Team

Just when Manchester City thought they were getting their key man back, disaster struck again. Rodri injury update from Sunday's clash at Brentford has left City fans shocked as their Ballon d'Or winner couldn't even last 21 minutes before clutching his hamstring and heading straight down the tunnel. The Spanish midfielder Rodri went down off the ball, shaking his head in obvious frustration as he realized what was happening. You could see it through his body language - the disappointment of another setback when he had been working so hard to get back to his best.

Nico González came on to replace him, but everyone at the Gtech Stadium knew this wasn't the plan. This latest Rodri injury is particularly crushing because it's not even his troublesome knee this time - it appears to be his right hamstring that's given way. After everything he's been through with that ACL surgery last September, you'd have thought his knee would be the main worry.

How Does Rodri's Injury Affect Manchester City?

This new Rodri Injury has Manchester City back to square one with their midfield balance. Guardiola's already been rotating heavily to protect his star player, but now they're facing weeks without him again (expecting, as not sure about the injury scale and timeline). What makes this situation even more painful is how well he'd been building up his fitness - he'd played an hour against Monaco in midweek and was beginning to look more like his old self.

The young Spaniard is more box-to-box, whereas Rodri is that tempo-setting, game-controlling presence that makes everything tick. Without their conductor, City loses that rhythm and control that's been their trademark for years. With the Belgian maestro Kevin De Bruyne gone, Rodri's absence in the midfield might push back in the title race this season.

When Will Rodri Return? Recovery Timeline

The latest Rodri injury might not be as troublesome as the one he suffered last year, but that doesn't necessarily make it better news. Hamstring injuries are tricky, especially for players coming back from long-term layoffs. The medical team will be extra cautious given what happened with his ACL last season.

What's really worrying is the pattern that's emerging. First the knee, then more knee problems, now a hamstring issue. It's textbook stuff for players returning from major injuries - one problem leads to another as your body tries to cope with the workload. Guardiola had admitted Rodri was complaining about knee pain recently, which is why he missed the Burnley game.

The international break might actually come at a good time - it gives City's medical staff a proper chance to assess the damage and work out a recovery plan. Based on typical hamstring injuries, we're probably looking at anywhere from 2-6 weeks, depending on the severity. But given Rodri's recent history, don't expect City to rush him back.