Kompany to miss the start of the season

Manchester City midfielder Vincent Kompany is scheduled for a foot operation that is certain to rule him out for the start of the Barclays Premier League campaign, the club have confirmed.

Kompany returned early from their training week in Bavaria and manager Mark Hughes is resigned to losing his services in a bid to solve the problem of the Belgium international's nagging toe injury.

Painkilling injections and specially-adapted boots became the norm for Kompany in the second half of last season following his arrival from Hamburg.

But he is now resting up and Hughes said: 'The likelihood is that he will need a procedure. If he has to have an operation Vincent will miss the start of the season.'