Kevin De Bruyne ruled out for further three matches in new Manchester City injury update | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has ruled Kevin De Bruyne out of action for a further three matches, in a new injury blow to the first-team roster.

The Manchester City vice-captain was withdrawn from action during matchday one of the revamped league phase in the UEFA Champions League, having sustained what appeared to be a groin problem at the end of the first-half against Inter Milan.

De Bruyne subsequently missed Manchester City’s following Premier League battle with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, and was once again kept away from matchday involvements against Watford in the Carabao Cup.

With uncertainty over whether he could return for the clash against Newcastle United at St James’ Park this weekend, Guardiola has previously claimed that De Bruyne would not be out ‘for long’ with the problem not being a major injury.

However, whilst speaking ahead of Manchester City’s visit to face Newcastle at St James’ Park this weekend, Guardiola confirmed that his side would once again be without the services of Belgian playmaker due to the same and ongoing injury problem.

When further quizzed on how long the 33-year-old could be out of action for, he continued, “I don’t know. Before maybe the (October) international break, or after international break. So we will see.”

Kevin De Bruyne was on a run of successive weeks and months without any fitness problems prior to the issue that cut short his Champions League debut for another season, having returned from a lengthy absence last season.

Following a hamstring injury in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final against Inter Milan in Istanbul, De Bruyne returned for Manchester City’s season opener last campaign against Burnley before suffering a similar issue to cut short another contest.

Having taken the decision to undergo surgery on his hamstring in an attempt to cut out any reoccurrences of the same issue, De Bruyne was sidelined for several months before playing a part in the business end of the club’s fourth successive Premier League title win.