Kevin De Bruyne has suffered a knee injury in training but Manchester City and there are fears he could be sidelined for around three months, reports Goal.
The Belgium international came on as a substitute in City’s opening Premier League game after being given extra time off following his exploits at the 2018 World Cup.
De Bruyne was expected to return to the starting XI for Sunday’s home encounter with Huddersfield but now looks set for a long spell on the sidelines.
The 27-year-old was ruled out for two months at the start of 2016 after suffering knee ligament damage and there are now fears he has sustained a similar injury.
De Bruyne left training on crutches and is now due to undergo tests in Barcelona in the coming days to discover the extent of his knee injury.
The news is a huge blow for City’s hopes of retaining their Premier League title as De Bruyne could miss around 12 league matches, including matches against rivals Tottenham, Liverpool, and Manchester United.
De Bruyne was integral to City’s league and cup double last season and has elevated his game to another level under Guardiola in the last two years.
Of Premier League players that made more than 25 appearances last season, De Bruyne garnered the highest WhoScored rating (7.80), while also providing the most assists in Europe’s top five leagues (16).
