Vincent Kompany Injury Offers Eliaquim Mangala Renewed Manchester City Chance

Speaking at his news conference ahead of Manchester City's crucial game with West Ham United on Sunday, Manuel Pellegrini confirmed Vincent Kompany will be missing with a groin injury sustained in the recent match with Crystal Palace. 

The City captain played the following game, the 4-2 defeat to Manchester United, but was taken off at half time when the problem flared up once more.

"He is injured," said Pellegrini when asked if he would play against the Hammers. "It's very difficult to know [how long he will be out for]. He has a muscle injury. We don't know for how many weeks. We always know near the amount of weeks but we don't know if he will be fit from now until the end of the season". 

With City on an appalling run of form, having lost six of their last eight games, with just four wins in their last 15 across all competitions, it's a further blow to an already struggling squad. 

It's the latest in a long line of injury problems for the Belgium defender, whose form this season has deteriorated as a result. The 29-year-old has a history of sustaining muscle injuries, having suffered two separate hamstring problems this season and numerous groin and calf strains over the past three years. 

However, for Eliaquim Mangala, the club's big-money summer signing from Porto, it provides an opportunity for him to establish himself in the side between now and the end of the season. 

Mangala has had an unsettled campaign. A difficult start to the season and a number of nervy displays saw him placed on the bench, with the form of Martin Demichelis meaning his route back into the starting XI was blocked. 

He's played only intermittently, often with different players either side of him in the back four and different midfield combinations ahead of him. It's hardly been an ideal scenario for a player looking to play his way through a difficult spell of form. 

And even in games where he's been a liability, he's consistently shown flashes of brilliance. This is a player with a wonderful mix of natural attributes: pace, strength, athleticism and aerial dominance. 

It's perhaps a lack of experience of English football which has held him back, rather than anything more worrying. Given time and games to bed in, City may well have a good player on their hands. 

The problem, of course, has been the reported fee. Because of his complicated ownership arrangement prior to his arrival at the Etihad, the deal to sign him was a layered one and, according to some journalists, reached £42 million once agents' fees and the like were added in. 

"

@pickles0303 he cost £42m. £24m to Porto, £14m to agent, £4m to former club Standard Liege. Total outlay £42m. Why are you in denial?

— David McDonnell (@DiscoMirror) April 14, 2015"

That makes the pressure on him to succeed extremely high, and no player is immune to those factors. He's looked overeager to impress when given a chance, almost certainly a by-product of the cost to bring him to the club. 

A run of games between now and the end of the season, which looks likely now given Kompany's problems, is just what he needs. Some confidence-building performances would set him up nicely for next season. 

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.