Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that captain Vincent Kompany will miss tomorrow's visit of Sunderland in the Premier League through injury.
The centre-back has been forced to sit out the team's last three games with a hamstring problem.
Kompany is understood to be nearing full fitness, but he will not feature at the Etihad Stadium on New Year's Day.
City head into their game with Sunderland three points behind leaders Chelsea in the table.