Kyle Walker injury puts Man City in an alien position under Pep Guardiola

It may still be early in the season, but Manchester City are entering a crucial period of their 2022/23 campaign.

Pep Guardiola's side have collected an impressive 14 points from a possible 18 in their opening six league games, but on Tuesday they will begin an 11-day period in which they will face Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, and Spurs and Wolves in the Premier League.

It's a tricky run of fixtures, and they'll have to navigate at least one of them — likely more — without Kyle Walker. The right-back was substituted during the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday after picking up an injury, and was the only new absentee from City's open training session on Monday. It's not known how long he'll be unavailable for.

READ MORE: Man City train with 23-man squad ahead of Sevilla trip as Kyle Walker missing

If Walker had to pick up an injury at some point during the first two months of the season, this was not the ideal week to do it. The Blues have passed through a relatively kind August schedule undefeated, but now they are about to come up against elite sides who have caused them plenty of issues in the past — Spurs in particular.

Since a disappointing 2019/20 campaign, which saw City's vulnerability to counter-attacks identified by opponents and exploited to the full, Guardiola has modified his side's shape and tactics so address that particular chink in the armour.

Walker is a significant part of the solution. The England international is technically gifted enough to move into midfield to help create a numerical advantage, thus reducing the risk of being hit through the middle; he's tactically intelligent enough to realise when to pass and when to move back to the flank; and his acceleration is so