PRESS CONFERENCE: Manuel Pellegrini confirms that @21lva will miss Sunday's game. Will be out for 3-4 weeks. #mcfc #cityvunited

— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 31, 2014

The injury means Silva will also miss next week's crucial Champions League clash against CSKA Moscow and a trip to QPR. He could also be unavailable for Spain's upcoming Euro 2016 qualifier against Belarus and a friendly with Germany.

Pellegrini, speaking at his press conference to preview Sunday’s game, said: “David has a problem in his ligament. Maybe he will be out around three weeks so he will not be available for the derby.

“He is a very important player but I think we have a squad and we have to replace him with another player.”

Midfielder Yaya Toure was also withdrawn as a precaution during the Newcastle defeat due to a groin problem but Pellegrini expects him to be fit to feature this weekend.

Pellegrini said: “Yaya has a small problem. We will see him on Saturday but I think he will not have any problems.”

Also on the positive side, playmaker Samir Nasri appears to have come through his return to action in midweek, after seven games out following groin surgery, unscathed.

City go into the game amid an underwhelming run of form.

Pellegrini’s men surrendered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at CSKA Moscow last week and were then beaten at West Ham in the Barclays Premier League and knocked out of the Capital One Cup by Newcastle.

They could be nine points behind Premier league leaders Chelsea and there is a feeling City can ill afford many more slip-ups, even at this early stage of the season.

Pellegrini referred to a “lack of trust” among his players after the Newcastle result but is convinced they will soon get back to their best.

He said: “I think they know perfectly what we are doing and I am absolutely sure we will return to our normal performance.

“It is a very important game but every game has just three points, so it is very important for us to just add three points.”