Roberto Mancini admits Adam Johnson’s ankle injury could be a significant blow to Manchester City’s trophy hunt.

England winger Johnson could miss the rest of the season with the ligament injury and Mancini conceded there was little chance of signing a replacement before the close of the transfer window last night.

Johnson was stretchered off in training on Thursday ahead of Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Notts County in the FA Cup fourth round and doctors placed a three-month rehabilitation period on the former Middlesbrough star which will also rule him out of England’s forthcoming Euro 2012 qualifier with Wales.

Mancini believes the biggest issue facing City is not the extra fixture forced upon the club because of the draw with County, but the loss of Johnson – a player who has shown on numerous occasions that he is capable of changing a game from the substitutes’ bench.

“He will be out for three months and that is a big problem. He has an injury like Kolarov. We do not have another winger like him. That might be his season over. He might be back for the FA Cup final,” said Mancini.

Carlos Tevez was also absent at Meadow Lane, but Mancini believes the Argentine international will have recovered in time to take his place in the side to face Birmingham City at St Andrew’s tomorrow.

“He had a back injury and he could not play. We hope that he will be fit to play against Birmingham,” he said.