Pep Guardiola delivers concerning Kevin De Bruyne injury update
- Kevin De Bruyne has been injured for more than a month
- The Belgian playmaker is struggling with a hamstring issue which has plagued him in recent years
- Pep Guardiola revealed that De Bruyne 'does not feel good'
Pep Guardiola has revealed that Kevin De Bruyne "does not feel good" and played down any swift return to fitness for Manchester City's star midfielder.
De Bruyne has been sidelined since limping off during the interval of a European tie against Inter in mid-September. The Belgian innocuously overstretched for the ball and damaged his hamstring, which has been a problem area since he was forced off in the first half of the 2023 Champions League final.
Guardiola has consistently stressed that De Bruyne's current issue is minor, but warned ahead of City's Champions League clash with Sparta Prague that the 33-year-old won't be rushed back.
"It's not a big issue but he doesn't feel completely fine," the Catalan coach told the assembled media on Tuesday. "He's not 22 years old any more - he has to be fit for his football and completely fit.
"If he does not feel comfortable, he cannot express his incredible potential. He's training better but he said to me he does not feel good, so if he does not feel good, he should take his time."
De Bruyne tore his hamstring in the opening game of the 2023/24 campaign and was told that the muscle had the same consistency as "a wet paper towel". The prolific assist-provider underwent surgery last year and made a miraculous return in the second half of last season.
Despite appearing in less than half of the available Premier League fixtures, De Bruyne managed to rack up ten top-flight assists - a tally that only two players in the division could better.
Phil Foden filled the void which De Bruyne left in the first six months of last season, but has been restricted to just three starts this term. Guardiola has eased the reigning Premier League Player of the Year into the new campaign after a busy summer of international football with England at Euro 2024.
The trophy-laden coach delivered a positive update on Foden this week: "With Phil, you realise immediately when he is happy and fit and mentally in the right moment. You realise he's getting better and better."
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