Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne is set to miss up to four months with a hamstring injury, head coach Pep Guardiola said on Tuesday.
De Bruyne initially injured his right hamstring in June’s Champions League final against Inter, coming off in the first half of a game City would eventually win 1-0.
After spending the summer working his way back to fitness, De Bruyne suffered a recurrence of the injury in last week’s Premier League opener against Burnley.
At a press conference before Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla, Guardiola confirmed the Belgian’s injury was severe and may require surgery.
“Kevin De Bruyne’s injury is serious one. He will be out for a few months,” Guardiola said. “We have to decide in the next days on surgery but for sure we lose Kevin for some time. We will decide in the next days. Surgery is surgery — three or four months out.
“The injury for Kevin is a blow, a big loss. He has specific qualities. For a long time is really tough for us. We have to look forward. We have alternatives. Kevin is irreplaceable, but we have talented players. They will take it.”
Guardiola denied that he and his staff rushed the 32-year-old back too quickly, saying: “We could say don’t play but this injury could happen later. Before I took the decision I spoke to the doctor, the physio and him. He said he felt good.”
De Bruyne scored 10 goals and added 31 assists last season as City won the treble, clinching the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup.
With two weeks left until the transfer window closes, Guardiola said City may look to bring in another player to help replace De Bruyne.
As if City will try to make a signing, Guardiola said: “We will see. After what happened we will see the possibilities.”
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