Benjani (left) in action against Everton's Steven Pienaar on Saturday

Manchester City striker Benjani looks set to miss the Christmas schedule with a hamstring injury picked up during Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Everton.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes told the club's website: "He'll probably be out for a number of weeks.

"A number of the guys are carrying injuries, so that will have an impact when you've got games coming up thick and fast.

"You need a fit squad and in that respect we are struggling right now."

Starting with Thursday's Uefa Cup tie against Spain's Racing Santander, City have four games in 10 days. They face West Brom, Hull and Blackburn in the Premier League over the Christmas period.

Zimbabwean international Benjani signed from Portsmouth for �3.8m in January but has only played seven times this season, scoring two goals, after struggling with a thigh problem.

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