Kevin De Bruyne reportedly out for a month as Man City's schedule heats up
Manchester City have put on a perfect start to Pep Guardiola’s debut season at the Etihad, but just as the Citizens enter their first stretch of difficult fixtures, they have lost their most important star.
Kevin De Bruyne is set to miss four weeks after injuring his hamstring late in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Swansea City, according to Belgian news outlet HLN.
That prognosis would rule De Bruyne out for Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Celtic as well as big Premier League tilts at second-place Tottenham Hotspur next weekend and at home against fifth-place Everton on Oct. 15. De Bruyne is now also a major doubt for City’s huge trip to Barcelona on Oct. 19, and the Belgium playmaker will also have to pass up World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Gibraltar on Oct. 7 and 10.
Guardiola wouldn’t project after Saturday’s win, but already lamented the potential loss. “I think he’s injured. Tomorrow the doctor is going to see. It’s a pity. He’s very important for us,” Guardiola said.
How important?
De Bruyne has been absolutely brilliant this season, scoring two goals and assisting on four more through City’s first six EPL games, and he ranks second in the league with 20 chances created so far. De Bruyne’s precise, perfectly-weighted passes and almost scary consistency in making the right decision has sliced opposing defenses apart. Now, his absence figures to be a massive blow, especially as the quality of City’s opposition ramps up over the next few weeks.
MORE FROM FOX SOCCER
