Kevin De Bruyne close to Manchester City return?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 14 February 2021

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola thinks that Kevin De Bruyne could possibly start training with the team again this week as he battles back from a hamstring issue.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that Kevin De Bruyne could potentially return to training with the team this week.

The Belgian playmaker suffered a hamstring injury against Aston Villa on January 20 and has not played since, although he is doing individual work on the training pitches.

Ilkay Gundogan, who came off injured himself in Saturday's 3-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur, has stepped up to the plate in the absence of De Bruyne, but Guardiola has hinted that the former Chelsea man could be back in the fold soon.

Speaking to Sky Sports News on Friday, Guardiola said: "The doctors told me maybe next week [week commencing February 15], maybe if he [De Bruyne] can start training with the team, that is good news for us.

"He has a good recovery with injury problems, [although] it can go bad at the same time. I said to the doctors, himself as well, we cannot forget what happened in the second league, the Premier League that we won.

"Most of the season he was injured because of muscular [injury] and came back, and then muscular again, come back and muscular again, and I don't want to take a risk.

"I want to be sure, we want to be sure, he wants to be sure that when he comes back it is because he is completely recovered and fit."

When asked about playing De Bruyne and Gundogan together in midfield, Guardiola added: "I will have the happy position. Hopefully he [De Bruyne] comes back soon. It will not be a problem, I promise you!"

De Bruyne scored three goals and set up 15 more across all competitions in the 2020-21 campaign before his injury, and he is yet to reach an agreement with the club over a new contract.