City's Silva ruled out for up to a month with knee injury

Manchester City midfielder David Silva

Manchester City midfielder David Silva has been ruled out for nearly a month after sustaining a knee injury, his manager Manuel Pellegrini said on Friday.

The Spanish playmaker was withdrawn after suffering the injury only nine minutes into City's shock 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle United in the League Cup on Wednesday. Scans have now revealed possible ligament damage.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's Premier League derby with Manchester United, City boss Pellegrini told a news conference that Silva would be out for "three to four weeks".

The loss of the influential Spaniard comes as a major blow for the champions, who have endured a stuttering start to the season and are third in the table on 17 points, six adrift of leaders Chelsea.