MANCHESTER City face the prospect of being without the "best holding midfielder in the world" for Saturday's game at Newcastle, with Pep Guardiola facing an anxious wait on the fitness of Rodri.
The Spaniard was forced off in the first half of Sunday's entertaining draw with Arsenal after colliding with Thomas Partey.
Guardiola was unclear on the severity of the injury in the immediate aftermath of the game and City's boss was left eagerly awaiting an update ahead of Saturday's trip to Tyneside.
“I don’t know yet. I didn’t ask the doctors,” said Guardiola in his post-match press conference.
“He is strong. He leaves the pitch and his action is he felt something otherwise he would stay there.
“He is the best holding midfielder in the world and potentially a Ballon D’Or winner, I would love it [if he won]."
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City host Watford in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night on the back of their dramatic late leveller against Arsenal, who had played the second half at the Etihad with 10 men after Leandro Trossard's dismissal.
The Premier League champions eventually forced a leveller which Guardiola felt would have come earlier had Rodri not suffered the first half injury.
He said: "The space is not there in the team, they equalise the team. Kova [Kovacic] and Ruben [Dias] is destined for the shot.
"With Rodri it may have been different or maybe I put Ruben on the right. That's why I delayed the sub for Kyle [Walker], but Kyle has a really good shot and crosses."
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