Eliaquim Mangala Injury: Updates on Manchester City Star's Status and Return

Manchester City will have to wait on the fitness of Eliaquim Mangala ahead of their Champions League trip to Moscow, after Manuel Pellegrini ruled him out of Saturday's clash with Tottenham.

The club's official Twitter account reported that Pellegrini believes the player will still be available for their European game against CSKA Moscow on Tuesday, despite sustaining a "small muscle problem."

Pellegrini also confirmed that the team's other international players had reported back to the club, fit for duty:

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Mangala has started life indifferently in the Premier League and has begun just three domestic matches for his new club, per Squawka, mainly due to injury.

But it is clear Pellegrini sees the French international as Vincent Kompany's long-term partner as City look to defend their Premier League crown.

Mangala recently spoke about his transfer to the English champions, revealing his motivation behind the move to French newspaper Aujourd'hui en France (via Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News):

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I have to live with the fact my brother was paralysed. He used to be a keen footballer before his accident. Whenever I play a match I play for him as well as myself. My motivation has been increased tenfold.

I want to go as far as I can in football for the sake of my brother, who has not had the opportunity to do so himself. I represent my family when I am out on the field. I give everything, and never short-change anyone. I have always behaved humbly, as you never know what tomorrow might bring. 

"

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Mangala joined City for a fee of £32 million—rising to £40 million—from Porto, last summer. The total was a record transfer for a defender in England and second-highest ever in world football, per Brennan.

The player is a wonderful talent but will need time to adjust to the pace of the Premier League.

We have already seen him exploited by opponents in his earliest gambit for his new team, but he has all the raw ingredients needed to develop into one of the best in Europe.

In his absence, Martin Demichelis will likely slot in alongside Kompany as Spurs visit the Etihad.