Kevin De Bruyne makes admission on injury comeback after starring role in Newcastle win
- Substitute De Bruyne helped Man City to late 3-2 win at Newcastle on Saturday night
- Belgian maestro made FA Cup comeback after four months out with hamstring injury
- Defending champions up to second, two points behind current leaders Liverpool
Kevin De Bruyne admitted he is still building up his match fitness but added it "can't be any better than this" after his starring role in Manchester City's dramatic 3-2 win at Newcastle United on Saturday night.
The Belgian midfielder came off the bench with his side 2-1 down at St James' Park. He rolled in the equaliser from distance before clipping in a cross for fellow substitute Oscar Bobb to cleverly control and finish, lifting the reigning domestic and European champions up to second in the Premier League.
De Bruyne made his comeback from a hamstring injury that saw him miss four months of the season in the 5-0 FA Cup win over Huddersfield Town last week and admitted he still needs time to build himself back up to full fitness.
He said: "I missed this. It is what it is, the big injury and I needed the time. But, you know, I enjoyed myself and I worked hard to come in this stage in this environment. I think it was more on willpower than anything else.
"I know I'm not able to do that for 90 minutes at the moment, but I know I can put in put in a shift 20, 25 minutes at full pace.
"I feel it in my lungs you know with the cold but (it) can't be any better than this."
On being sidelined for so long, De Bruyne added: "Honestly, it's not been hard. I've enjoyed you know, obviously the beginning is a big blow, but then I'm not the kind of person who stands still.
"I enjoyed myself being able to do things that we are never able to do, and I worked hard and I'm now I'm happy to be back and compete."
Bernardo Silva had given City the lead with a wonderful flick before quick-fire and almost identical goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon put the Magpies ahead against the run of play. However, De Bruyne's introduction tipped the game in the visitors' favour and the winner eventually came in the 91st minute courtesy of young Norwegian Bobb.
The 20-year-old's compatriot Erling Haaland was once again not involved after suffering a setback in his recovery from a foot injury, though the lethal striker was in good enough spirits to post a picture on social media of himself sporting a massive grin shortly after City's late winner.
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