How do you replace the irreplaceable? The news that Manchester City would be without Erling Haaland until the end of the month, taking his spell of availability to the two-month mark, was the sort of blow that would leave almost any club punchdrunk but not, habitually, this one.
If there is sometimes the feeling that Pep Guardiola enjoys setting a challenging puzzle for his bright sparks, then it was almost as if Kevin De Bruyne had grown weary of any navel gazing as he greedily filled his pockets in his first Premier League minutes since August. “He’s not ready for 90 minutes after five months,” emphasised Guardiola, “but he’s fresh in his mind.” The usually inscrutable playmaker left the field last, to the hugs and acclaim of his players and staff, wearing a smile as wide as the Tyne Bridge.
