Nathan Ake has been ruled out of Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United

Manchester City defender Nathan Ake will miss Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United with a thigh injury, manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed.

The in-form Netherlands international was forced off in the second half of City’s Champions League quarter-final tie at Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

The club are yet to learn the full extent of the problem, but the 28-year-old faces at least a short-term absence.

Guardiola, whose side face a crucial top-of-the-table Premier League clash against Arsenal next Wednesday, told a news conference on Friday: “He’s not ready for tomorrow but I don’t know the damage. Today, they are taking the final test to find out exactly what it has.”

Phil Foden joined the team in midweek following a lay-off following an appendix operation, but was an unused substitute as City secured a place in the Champions League semi-finals at the Allianz Arena.

“He was on the bench after two training sessions,” said Guardiola. “Every day that goes by he will be better.”

Guardiola will assess his squad after their efforts in Germany – where City earned a 1-1 draw to go 4-1 on aggregate – before considering changes for the Blades clash at Wembley.

He said: “I have to see the players and how they feel.

“After the Munich game they couldn’t really celebrate in the dressing room because of how exhausted they were, but I rotated a lot in previous seasons and it wasn’t good.

“I have to think. I have many doubts about the formation.

“I have to watch the training sessions and talk to a lot of them and see what my feeling is.

“Of course they will say they want to play, but we have to make sure people are in the (right) mood.”

The Blades, who sit second in the Sky Bet Championship and are closing in on promotion, have their own selection problems with two of their key players – City loanees Tommy Doyle and James McAtee – ineligible.

Unlike in Munich in midweek, when City faced another player of their own in Joao Cancelo, domestic competition rules prevent players being loaned out to face their parent clubs.

Guardiola believes it is a shame for the tie and for the players.

He said: “The Championship is a good test to prove yourself. We are incredibly excited for them.

“Unfortunately, they can’t play. We would have loved that. We loan players out to gain experience and what better experience than playing a Premier League team in the semi-finals of the FA Cup for their development? Unfortunately, the rule is the rule and they can’t play.”

Guardiola, who have lost four of their previous five FA Cup semi-finals, expects a tough test from the Yorkshire side.

He said: “We are one or two games away from promotion to the Premier League. This has already been done.

“It will be an extremely difficult game for the quality they have. They are very good at set-pieces, very good at build-up and linking in channels. They are so aggressive in duels.

“We have to be there, absolutely, to deserve to be in the final.”