Pep Guardiola to miss Man City matches after emergency surgery

Assistant manager Juanma Lillo will step in until Guardiola’s expected return after the international break

Pep Guardiola has undergone back surgery (PA Wire)

Pep Guardiola has joined Manchester City’s injury list and will miss their next two games after undergoing minor back surgery in Barcelona.

Assistant manager Juanma Lillo will take charge of City’s next two games, away at Sheffield United on Sunday and at home to Fulham the following Saturday.

Guardiola is expected back after the international break, when City host West Ham before beginning the defence of their Champions League title.

City said Guardiola had suffered from “severe back pain for some time” and that emergency surgery, performed by Dr Mireia Illueca, was a success. The 52-year-old will continue his recovery in Barcelona.

Lillo returned to City for a second spell in the summer after a year in charge of Qatari club Al Sadd. The 57-year-old, who coached Guardiola at Dorados de Sinaloa in Mexico, has a long managerial career in his own right, including stints at Real Zaragoza and Real Sociedad.