Man City's Gabriel Jesus fit for start of season despite injury - sources

Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus is expected to be fit for the start of the new Premier League season after suffering a fractured eye socket while playing for Brazil last week, sources have told ESPN FC.

However, Gabriel's status for City's International Champions Cup games in the U.S. remains uncertain after he was hurt in a collision with City teammate Nicolas Otamendi as Brazil lost 1-0 to Argentina in Australia on Friday.

Medical staff at City, having spoken to their Brazilian counterparts and studied X-rays of Gabriel's injury, are happy for the forward to spend his recovery period in South America rather than returning to Manchester for treatment, sources said.

And while there remains the possibility of the £27 million signing from Palmeiras undergoing minor surgery, City are confident that his injury will not result in a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

With the Premier League campaign kicking off on Aug. 12 -- the 2017-18 fixtures will be announced on Wednesday morning -- there are no concerns that Gabriel will miss the start of the campaign.

Pep Guardiola's team are due to begin their preseason programme with an ICC encounter against Manchester United at NRG Stadium in Houston on July 20, and sources said it is too early to predict whether Gabriel will be fit for that game.

The club anticipates, however, that he will travel to the U.S. to train with the rest of the City first team, with appearances in the friendlies dependent on the progress of his recovery.

City are also due to face Real Madrid in Los Angeles on July 26 and Tottenham in Nashville on July 29 before playing a friendly against West Ham in Iceland.

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