Man City hopeful Kevin De Bruyne will recover from injury and be back after international break
PEP GUARDIOLA believes Kevin De Bruyne will be ready to return straight after the international break.
The Belgian gave Manchester City a scare when he injured his groin during the 3-1 victory at Everton last Saturday – and was forced to miss the Champions League game in midweek.
But scans have shown the problem is not too serious – although he will sit out the game against Wolves in midweek.
Belgium are also likely to excuse him from their matches against San Marino and Kazakhstan in the next two weeks as they only need a point to qualify for Euro 2020.
Guardiola said: “For Sunday he is not fit. After the international break he will be ready. “
City are not taking any risks with De Bruyne after he missed so much of last season with injury.
He was left on the bench for the shock defeat at Norwich last month and Guardiola is refusing to rush him back.
He added: “Sometimes he’s not playing, in the game at Norwich he was sub. When he feels good, he’s good.”
John Stones is also ruled out of the clash with Wolves as he recovers from the thigh problem which has forced him to miss the upcoming England internationals.
Guardiola said: “Hopefully after the international break he will be back.”
That means Fernandinho is likely to continue as an emergency centre back this weekend – after helping City keep three clean sheets from his four games there.
Guardiola believes the 34-year-old is up to the heavy workload, saying: “I think he can do it. He didn’t have many minutes in his legs before these games.
“But except the last part of last season during our time together he’s played every three days over 11 months.”