Man City’s De Bruyne out for ‘four months’ with injury

Kevin de Bruyne, Manchester City captain, has been ruled out of action for “up to four months” due to a recurrent hamstring injury.

The 32-year-old Belgian will also miss Man City’s UEFA Super Cup final match against Sevilla on Wednesday.

De Bruyne’s impending lay-off was disclosed by Pep Guardiola, the club’s manager, during the pre-match press conference for the clash.

De Bruyne had limped off in the first half of Man City’s opening English Premier League (EPL) match against Burnley on Friday.

He did not play a single minute of pre-season and also previously suffered the same injury and was substituted in Man City’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) final triumph over Inter Milan in June

Guardiola also disclosed the severity of the latest injury, stating that it might require surgery.

“It’s a serious injury,” Guardiola said, adding: “We have to decide on surgery but he will be a few months out.”

When asked about the worst-case scenario, Guardiola said: “Surgery would be, I don’t know, three or four months out.”

Lamenting further, Guardiola said he is disappointed at losing a player with “special qualities” for an extended period.

“First of all, the injury to Kevin is a blow and big loss for us. Kevin has specific qualities. You can lose it for one or two games but for a long time this is tough for us,” he said.

“But we have to look forward and we have alternatives there at other options. [There are] opportunities now for the other ones – life gives you that – and I am pretty sure they will take it.”

De Bruyne is integral to Man City’s impressive run of consecutive EPL titles, including a treble of EPL, FA Cup and UCL titles last season.

He has scored 96 goals and provided 153 assists in 358 matches at Man City.

Photo credit: IMAGO/PA Images/Mike Egerton