Man City handed huge injury boost ahead of Arsenal clash

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne could be fit in time to face Arsenal in the huge Premier League title clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

De Bruyne missed City's FA Cup quarter-final win over Newcastle United earlier this month with a groin injury and subsequently didn't link up with the Belgium squad for their matches against Republic of Ireland and England during the international break.

But ESPN has reported there is "optimism" at City about De Bruyne being available for the Arsenal game. With most of the club's senior stars away, the 32-year-old is said to have come through a training session with the Under-23 squad on Tuesday unscathed.

By the time those who have been representing their various national teams begin reporting back for training on Thursday, De Bruyne is set to join them. That will give the Belgian up to three daily sessions to prove his fitness before matchday comes on Sunday.

De Bruyne saw the early months of his 2023/24 season ravaged by a hamstring injury suffered just 23 minutes into City's Premier League opener against Burnley back in early August. It was the best part of five months before he played again, missing the whole Champions League group stage and FIFA Club World Cup, only to pick up a groin strain only 12 appearances into his comeback.

City trail Premier League leaders Arsenal by one point ahead of the weekend. Liverpool are also sandwiched between them, level on points with the Gunners but pushed into second place as a result of a slightly inferior goal difference.

With just ten games each left to play, it is developing into perhaps the best Premier League title race there has ever been as genuine three-horse races have been virtually non-existent in the past.

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