Manchester City has confirmed that midfielder Mateo Kovacic will miss the Club World Cup, which kicks off in just under two weeks.

Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic (1st R) celebrates scoring with teammates during the English Premier League match between Manchester City and Luton Town in Manchester, Britain, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua)

The team coached by Pep Guardiola starts its campaign against Moroccan side Wydad AC in Philadelphia on June 18th, but Kovacic won't be in the starting 11 after an announcement from the club on Monday that he has had an operation on an Achilles tendon injury.

"The Croatian midfielder is now set to miss the FIFA Club World Cup as City head to the USA in June. Mateo will spend the summer rehabilitating from the operation, and everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery," confirmed the club website.

Guardiola will be hoping that Rodrigo Hernandez is able to return to full fitness and form in the United States.

Rodrigo made a brief appearance against Bournemouth at the end of the campaign after missing nearly all of last season with a cruciate knee ligament injury, but is still short of match fitness after not previously playing since September.

Meanwhile, the club is reported in the British press to be interested in signing Wolverhampton Wanderers' Algeria defender Rayan Ait Nouri, although whether the move will happen in time for the Club World Cup is not certain.