A devastated Jack Grealish had to be consoled by his Man City team-mates after suffering a fresh injury setback on Tuesday night.
The 28-year-old winger was forced off before half-time at Kenilworth Road in City's 6-2 thumping of the Hatters in the fifth round of the FA Cup and was visibly distraught by his latest injury.
The England international was replaced by Jeremy Doku after 38 minutes with Pep Guardiola forced into an early change.
After coming off, an emotional Grealish was seen hiding under a training jacket before his team-mates consoled him.
'Looks like it [a recurrence of the groin injury],' Guardiola said after the game.
'It's the second time. Hopefully this time he can recover well.'
Man City star Jack Grealish was consoled by team-mates after suffering fresh injury setback
The 28-year-old was visibly distraught after he was forced off before half-time at Luton
'I didn’t speak to the doctor but I think he was complaining a bit about his groin.
'He felt really good but unfortunately was injured again.'
“It’s been a tough season for him. He’ll have to recover well and help us when he’s able to come back.”
The injury came after Grealish quickly recovered from a groin problem sustained in Copenhagen a fortnight ago to start against Luton on Tuesday night.
While Grealish cut a distraught figure on the touchline, the England star still took time to congratulate his team-mates on social media, along with a message on his injury.
Underneath a re-post of City's full-time FA Cup graphic, Grealish wrote: 'Well done boys. Away support was unreal!!! Hoping my injury isn't to bad' with two praying emojis following it.
Speaking ahead of the FA Cup fifth round, Guardiola backed the former Aston Villa captain to put a patchy season behind him and play a significant role in City's fight for silverware.
'Over the last month, Jack is back in terms of many things,' Guardiola said. 'That's why he played an important game in the Champions League in Copenhagen.
'Hopefully he can make the impact he had last season. It depends on him. I try to be fair in my decision.
'He played lots of minutes last season, and this season less in the beginning. He is the same player, he has the same manager, and the way we play has not changed.'
Grealish was replaced by Jeremy Doku after 38 minutes of the FA Cup fifth round tie
Grealish was integral in City winning the Treble last season, but has just three goals and two assists from 26 appearances to far this term and Guardiola doesn't believe he's yet hit the heights of the Treble campaign.
Nothing has changed. It's just the way he has performed. That's the difference,' the City manager said.
'I said from day one: we need him, he has a special quality for our team. We need him. It depends on him. Hopefully he can do a good last three months.
'The players don't have to convince me. They have to convince themselves that they deserve to play.'