Manchester City star out for 5-6 weeks

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has been sidelined for the next five to six weeks with a knee injury. The Belgian will miss Sunday’s PL game with Southampton, Wednesday’s Champions League fixture with Shakhtar Donetsk and the derby with Manchester United.

Sad for him: City Boss

De Bruyne suffered the injury during the 2-0 win over Fulham in the Carabao Cup on Thursday. It was in the 85th minute that Timothy Fosu-Mensah landed heavily on De Bruyne’s leg to leave City midfielder hobbling from the pitch.

The 27-year-old star has already missed two months of action for damaged ligaments in his right knee during training in August.

Pep expressed disappointment on losing his front man. “Kevin was already out two and a half months, and we are sad for him. Nobody likes injured players. You cannot expect a player like we know Kevin is to come back and have the rhythm and the pace and everything. Yesterday he came back in many, many things. Unfortunately he’s injured, but fortunately, it’s not surgery. The doctor says he will be out for five to six weeks.”

Kevin was already out two and a half months, and we are sad for him. The doctor says he will be out for five to six weeks.

When asked by when De Bruyne can return, Pep replied, “This kind of injury is unlucky. He’s so strong and he recovered so well from the previous injury — it was more dangerous than this one. He’ll recover well because we have an excellent [medical] department. I’m more concerned about muscular [injuries]. He’s unlucky with that situation We are a stronger team with Kevin than without him, but we have to live without him and we have to be there when he comes back. Hopefully we’ll be in the knockout of the Champions League when he comes back, and stay up there in the Premier League.”

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Manchester derby just another game: Pep

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola did not give much heed to upcoming Manchester derby. “It’s not about the Manchester derby. That is three points like Southampton is three points. The Manchester derby is not a final — it will be just another game,” Guardiola told a news conference.