Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson has a nagging groin problem but the club is confident that surgery will not be necessary. Reports over the weekend suggested an operation was required.

However, City boss Mark Hughes confirmed the club are still exploring ways to remedy the problem without the need for surgery.

"He's still with the medical team here and we are still trying to work on the right course of action for him," Hughes told the club's official website.

"We're not at the stage, yet, where we think an operation is needed, but we want to resolve it as quickly as possible, but at the moment we don't think it's coming to that."