Pep Guardiola fires warning to Kevin De Bruyne ahead of Man City return
Pep Guardiola has warned Kevin De Bruyne to pace himself on his return for Manchester City – or risk another long-term injury lay-off.
De Bruyne, who has not played for City since August after undergoing hamstring surgery, could be on the bench for Sunday's FA Cup tie against Huddersfield. Holders City have been hit by a flu bug which has affected four players – Bernardo Silva, Matheus Nunes, Kalvin Phillips and Scott Carson – while Rodri has returned to Spain following the death of his grandmother.
That means De Bruyne, among the subs for City's 2-0 win over Sheffield United on December 30, could be back on the bench and make his long-awaited return. But City boss Guardiola has warned De Bruyne to play within himself when he does return, warning the 32-year-old he will have to curb his full-throttle approach early on.
“I'd love Kevin to play the way he played the last eight years with me,” said Guardiola. “I think he's not going to change his qualities, they are there. Of course, it was a big injury and what concerns us the most is to try and avoid a repeat of it. This is what we have to be careful with, with his minutes at first.
“There's enthusiasm in the first minutes - 'Wow, I’m going to play' – but you have to careful with that. You have to speak with him, but especially with his doctors, the physio and the guys who know what the minutes should be and the best processes.
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“What Kevin needs, what every player with long-term injuries needs, is an accumulation of weeks of training and minutes. A setback would be the worst. Do it right or he's going to get injured again. Even how he is feeling, how he recovers from a big action, this is a long time. He didn’t have a pre-season. He's so fresh and has so much desire - but we have to be careful.”
Kevin De Bruyne could return for Manchester City against Huddersfield (Jose Breton/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)Guardiola is likely to have to reshuffle his side as City begin their defence of the FA Cup, with so many enforced absences. Star striker Erling Haaland – who has missed City's last seven games – and winger Jeremy Doku are both closing in on a return.
“The last two or three training sessions they have trained with us,” said Guardiola. “Jeremy feels really good. For Erling, it's a bit better with the bone, but we have to be a little bit more careful.
“They are improving. I don’t know for Sunday, I don't know for Newcastle, but for the rest of the games they will be ready. Rodri, unfortunately his grandmother passed away yesterday in Madrid. Today and tomorrow he will not be here.”
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