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Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero sought to calm fears over the extent of a knee injury he sustained in the champions' opening 3-2 Premier League home win over Southampton.
The Argentine striker, whose last-gasp goal against Queens Park Rangers sealed the title for City in dramatic fashion in May, was carried off on a stretcher after 13 minutes of the match.
City's top scorer last season looked in severe pain after a tackle, before getting to his feet and then dropping to the floor again. But he later said he had not suffered a serious injury.
After City had come from 2-1 down to win, Aguero said on his Twitter account: "The studies I had done revealed there's no significant injury, but it was a very tough hit to my knee.
"Tomorrow, the physicians will evaluate the time it will take for me to recover.
"I can't muster words to thank [you] for your concern, and with this much support, I'll probably get back up on my feet soon.
"And I want to congratulate my teammates for their effort in turning this game around."
Any long-term absence for Aguero would be particularly agonising for City, having missed out on striker Robin van Persie, who opted to join Manchester United after leaving Arsenal.
"I think we need to wait two days for the scan," City manager Roberto Mancini said. "We hope it's not serious, but at this stage I don't know."
With only 10 days remaining in the transfer window, Mancini admitted that his final activities in the market could well be dictated by the results of those tests.
"The knee is always dangerous and the injury was so strange. I am worried, yes, but we don't know yet," the Italian said.
"At the moment, we can say nothing. This can happen in every game, it is clear that you can be lucky through the year, but today it is a problem," he said.
"If it is a serious injury, we will probably change our plans. Maybe he is out for a week, or three or four weeks, or after the international break."
City's comeback in the thrilling victory over promoted Southampton proved they have goals throughout the team. In scenes reminiscent of May's title triumph against QPR, Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri scored as City came back from a goal down to win late on, but Mancini hopes this is the end of nerve-jangling finishes.
"I hope it is the last day like this. I remember the other very well. But it is important that we won this game because the first game when you start the season is always difficult," he said. "It's important we have this character but next time it is better we close the game before.
"I think today is only because it was the first game, we work together only for two weeks … we need to improve more."
City's gritty recovery protected an unbeaten home league run that dates to December 2010.
Mancini paid tribute to Tevez and Nasri, but admitted there was more to come from players like Mario Balotelli and David Silva, who had busy summers at Euro 2012 and looked lacklustre in the season opener.
"It's the first time in about 10 years Carlos has done a pre-season, so if you do a pre-season you can start like he did," joked Mancini. "Samir should play always like today, like [last season] against Chelsea.
"In this moment, there are some players like Mario and Silva who start their season in July, so it takes time. For this reason they can't be 100 per cent."
Saints boss Nigel Adkins was understandably buoyed by his team's performance.
"Our defenders just played against the best forward line they've every played against and acquitted themselves really well," he said. "We've come away to the champions and wanted to give ourselves an opportunity to win the game.
"We're a team with back-to-back promotions over the last two years and we knew this season was going to be a challenge."
Reuters, Agence France-Presse


Aguero injury tarnishes Manchester City comeback win over Southampton

Manchester City's Carlos Tevez battles for the ball with Morgan Schneiderlin of Southampton at the Etihad Stadium. Photo: AFP

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Mancini awaits scan results after Argentine striker is stretchered off as champions come from behind to beat new boys Southampton


Aguero injury tarnishes Manchester City comeback win over Southampton

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Mancini awaits scan results after Argentine striker is stretchered off as champions come from behind to beat new boys Southampton

Mancini awaits scan results after Argentine striker is stretchered off as champions come from behind to beat new boys Southampton