Manchester City's David Silva ruled out for up to a month with knee injury

Manchester: Manchester City midfielder David Silva has been ruled out for nearly a month after sustaining a knee injury, his manager Manuel Pellegrini said on Friday.

The Spanish playmaker was withdrawn after suffering the injury only nine minutes into City`s shock 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle United in the League Cup on Wednesday. Scans have now revealed possible ligament damage.

Speaking ahead of Sunday`s Premier League derby with Manchester United, City boss Pellegrini told a news conference that Silva would be out for "three to four weeks".

The loss of the influential Spaniard comes as a major blow for the champions, who have endured a stuttering start to the season and are third in the table on 17 points, six adrift of leaders Chelsea.