Wilfried Bony is set to report for international duty with Ivory Coast -- even though Manuel Pellegrini believes the injured striker cannot play.
The former Swansea forward limped off in the first half of City's 0-0 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday with a hamstring problem and will be assessed.
But Pellegrini is resigning himself to the reality that Bony is set to link up with African Nations Cup winners Ivory Coast, who face Liberia in a World Cup qualifier.
"It is difficult to know at this moment how serious his hamstring injury is," he said in a news conference at Villa Park.
"We will see tomorrow [Monday]. I don't know -- maybe he will have to go and join up with Ivory Coast.
"His country must review the injury. But I don't think he will be able to play and he will return to Manchester."
Bony was making his seventh successive start, his longest run in the City team since his January arrival.
But while his injury leaves them without both frontline strikers, Sergio Aguero, who has been out for four weeks, is expected to be fit again after the international break.
"I hope Sergio, Samir Nasri and Pablo Zabaleta will do their last work with the physio and next Monday will start working with the squad ," Pellegrini added.
"We will see in the way he [Aguero] improves this week but I think he can be [fit after the international break]. It will be easier for us to have a striker."
City, who used midfielder Kevin De Bruyne in attack for an hour after Bony went off against Villa, host Liverpool next on Nov. 21.