MANCHESTER -- Manchester City expect to be without Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko until the second half of January as Manuel Pellegrini looks to navigate a busy three weeks without his two premier strikers.
Pellegrini had said he hoped the Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina internationals would be back earlier in 2015 but now expects to be without Aguero, who has a knee injury and Dzeko, who has a calf problem, for the trip to Everton on Jan. 10.
And City will also be without Stevan Jovetic, their third senior striker for the Boxing Day match against West Bromwich Albion, meaning midfielder James Milner is set to continue as an emergency forward.
Captain Vincent Kompany is also out, meaning that Martin Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala are likely to carry on in the centre of defence, but Gael Clichy, who missed Saturday's 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, is available again.
Jovetic and Kompany might be fit for Sunday's game against Burnley, while City are confident their 19-goal top scorer Aguero will be back before the potential title decider against Chelsea on Jan. 31.
Pellegrini said in a news conference: "The strikers, Sergio, Edin Dzeko and Jovetic [are out]. Gael Clichy is okay, he has an important kick and Vincent Kompany [is still sidelined].
"Maybe Jovetic and Kompany will be [back] soon, the end of this week or next week. Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero will be the second part of January."
City will come up against Joleon Lescott on Friday for the first time since the centre-back left the Etihad for The Hawthorns, Pellegrini insisted he does not regret letting the England international go.
He added: "I don't think so because every squad needs change every year. He is 33, 34 years old. We thought it was better for him to continue for another club.
"I was always very happy with his performance for us last year because he is a very good player and an intelligent player."