Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic set to be ruled out of Premier League opener with ankle injury Nastasic returned to Manchester with Manuel Pellegrini's squad on Sunday before being assessed by the club's medical staff. The Serbian centre-half is to undergo an MRI scan on Monday, but early examination by Manchester City's medical staff has led to Pellegrini being told that Nastasic will be facing a battle to be fit in time for the club's Premier League opener against Newcastle on Aug 19. Although Nastasic became the second player to be injured while playing on the controversial pitch at the Hong Kong Stadium, following ankle damage suffered by Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen last week, City manager Pellegrini claimed that the waterlogged surface was not to blame for the 20-year-old's injury. Nastasic's setback is likely to intensify the club's efforts to recruit a new defender, however, and also enhance Joleon Lescott's prospects of being given a contract extension prior to the start of the new season. City secured the Barclays Asia Trophy following Edin Dzeko's first-half goal against Paolo Di Canio's team. Tottenham secured third place with a 6-0 victory against South China in a game in which Jermain Defoe scored a hat-trick.