Manchester City captain Kevin De Bruyne won’t be rushed back from injury despite the team’s recent slump in form, insists Pep Guardiola.
City have not won in their last four Premier League outings with De Bruyne not appearing since limping out of the action at Burnley with a thigh injury on the opening day in August.
The Belgium star was named in City’s squad for the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia later this month but Guardiola believes the original return date of the new year is more realistic.
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Speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to Luton, Guardiola said: “I think he has started to run on the pitch but he didn’t train once with us. The Club World Cup is in what, two weeks? So it is maybe a bit early for Kevin, but I don’t know.
“Kevin is so important but unfortunately he had a tough injury at the beginning, three or four months he is still recovering so don’t put any pressure on him.
“He’ll be back when he’s ready but we’ll have open arms when he is.
“I have to find a way when he’s not here to survive.”
PEP 💬 I think he [Kevin De Bruyne] has started to run on the pitch but hasn’t trained with us once. The FIFA Club World Cup is in two or three weeks… Maybe it’s a bit early but I don’t know. pic.twitter.com/cdneMT8jSr
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 8, 2023
