I’m not too sure but he will be out for a very long period – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola

I’m not too sure but he will be out for a very long period – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola

Will De Bruyne be fit to return for Man City against Newcastle

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided an update on the fitness of Kevin De Bruyne ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

De Bruyne was taken off at half time in City’s goalless stalemate with Inter Milan in the Champions League with an apparent groin injury and has since missed the club’s last two games against Arsenal and Watford.

 

Prior to the 2-2 draw with Arsenal last weekend, Guardiola issued a reassuring update on De Bruyne’s condition, stating that “he feels a little better”.

 

Guardiola then revealed after the 2-1 EFL Cup third-round win over Watford on Wednesday that the 33-year-old’s injury is “not serious”.

 

However, De Bruyne has not taken part in first-team training this week and the playmaker is not ready to return to the matchday squad for Saturday’s trip to Newcastle.

 

Asked at a press conference on Friday if De Bruyne would be fit to return this weekend, Guardiola said: “No. I don’t know (when he will return). Maybe before the international break or after the international break. We will see”.

 

Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne pictured on September 18, 2024

How many Man City games will De Bruyne miss?

Including Man City’s trip to Newcastle this weekend, Guardiola and co have three more fixtures to prepare for before the next international break begins in mid-October.

 

The Citizens will follow up the clash against Newcastle with a Champions League away game against Slovan Bratislava next Tuesday, before returning to the Etihad Stadium to face Fulham in the Premier League.

 

City will hope to have De Bruyne back in the first-team fold after the international break, but the Belgian still requires time in the treatment room, he could miss a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on October 20.

 

 

Man City will then conclude October with for three more fixtures across three different competitions over a seven-day period, coming up against Sparta Prague (Champions League), Southampton (Premier League) and Tottenham Hotspur (EFL Cup fourth round).

 

Meanwhile, Guardiola has confirmed that Rodri will miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury and has refused to rule out signing a replacement in January.

 

Man City are also having to cope without Oscar Bobb (leg fracture) and Nathan Ake (muscle), although the latter could be ready to return after the international break.

 

SportMan City claim victory in landmark case against Premier League

 

 

Manchester City appear to have won the Premier League in their landmark legal case against the body.

 

According to the Daily Mail, the champions seem to have scored a point over the league body in their legal battle over APT rules.

 

This comes after a vote on a potential amendment to the system was dropped from the meeting that happened on Thursday.

 

It is understood that clubs were going to discuss potential amendments to APT rules, which stipulate how much sponsors can pay to clubs.

 

However, the vote was taken out before the meeting started, in what may be a hint that City have been successful in their legal challenge.

 

This legal case is different from the hearing that will see City face up to 115 charges of potential financial mismanage

ment throughout the Premier League era.