Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes John Stones could be back fit within a month.
The Premier League champions have been left short of centre-back options - with Stones joining fellow defender Aymeric Laporte on the side-lines.
"Stones hopefully one month, maybe a little bit more, for Laporte he’s out six months," Guardiola said when asked about the recovery time for his first-choice centre-half pairing.
The City manager feels Fernandinho fit in well in a new defensive role in their midweek win at Shakhtar.
"I said we don’t have many other options, but he played well. There are also two young players in which we trust a lot. Eric is training last season with us Harwood-Bellis trained on pre-season and we will count on them. It’s not a problem it’s a challenge we have to accept it and be positive and we will do it and be happy and work hard."
Guardiola has hinted that Sergio Aguero, who has scored 10 goals in his last seven appearances against Watford, will start ahead of Gabriel Jesus against the Hornets tomorrow.
"Jesus was involved and maybe involved tomorrow but it’s difficult to find in Europe a player like Gabriel and how important he is. His behaviour in training is outstanding he has to fight for his place against a legend in Aguero.
"Sergio didn’t play in the last game and he scored in all of the other game and Sergio fights for the team that’s why I’m so delighted with the striker. Gabriel has to be patient. I know when he plays he does absolutely everything like he has done in Ukraine not just for the goal the way he fights and his future at this club is incredible".
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