GOAL

Manchester City and Argentina striker Sergio Aguero has undergone minor knee surgery and will seemingly struggle to return in time for any of his side's final five matches of the season.

Aguero has scored 30 times in all competitions for newly crowned Premier League champions City despite recently spending a month on the sidelines with a knee problem.

He returned to action as a substitute in the derby defeat to Manchester United on April 7, and was on the receiving end of a strong challenge in the penalty area from Ashley Young that went unpunished by referee Martin Atkinson.

Aguero made another brief cameo appearance during City's vain attempt at a Champions League comeback against Liverpool last week, but manager Pep Guardiola ruled the 29-year-old out of Saturday's 3-1 win over Tottenham, citing Young's challenge as the cause of the injury.

With the top-flight title now secure, he looks set for another period of rehabilitation. 

"Recovering from an arthroscopy on my knee," Aguero tweeted.

"Fully motivated to get back soon to the field."

Initial reports suggest that Aguero could be sidelined for up to a month, which would bring his 2017-18 domestic campaign to a close.

City have wrapped up the Premier League title with five games to spare and have no need for Aguero to aid their efforts from this point.

He will, however, be forced to sit out meetings with Swansea, West Ham, Huddersfield, Brighton and Southampton if his campaign has come to a close.

Returning to full fitness in time for this summer's World Cup will now be Aguero's main concern, with the showpiece event in Russia now just two months away.

Argentina's first match of the tournament is against Iceland on June 16.