Manchester City a boost on Tuesday when Kevin de Bruyne returned to full first team training.
Following their week-long training trip in Abu Dhabi, Pep Guardiola and his players stepped up their preparations for the resumption of the season by returning to full training at the City Football Academy. This time though De Bruyne was involved.
De Bruyne was one of 16 City players to jet off to Qatar to take part in the World Cup, but his Belgium side suffered a surprise group-stage exit. The Red Devils failed to make it out of their group after picking up four points from three games, and after their goalless draw with Croatia on 1st December returned home.
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Since then De Bruyne has enjoyed a well-earned rest with his family, and he returned to the fold on Tuesday looking in good condition.
City will return to competitive action on Thursday, December 22 when they take on Liverpool in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. City are looking to reclaim the title they held on to for four straight seasons between 2018 and 2021, and against a side as strong as Jurgen Klopp's they will need their big guns available.
Erling Haaland was also involved on Tuesday and looked sharp and raring to go. The Norwegian striker traveled to Abu Dhabi last week but spent some of the time training alone. He now looks to be back with the main group, which can only be a positive indication of his fitness.
Haaland was hampered by injuries in the weeks leading up to the World Cup break, but with Julian Alvarez set to feature for Argentina in the World Cup final on 18th December, the Norwegian will be City's only senior striker available for the visit of Liverpool.
Ilkay Gundogan suffered a group-stage World Cup exit so he should return to training soon. Rodri and Aymeric Laporte are in the same boat after Spain crashed out at the round of 16 stage. City's English and Portuguese representatives are not expected to be involved against Liverpool, but should be available for the league trip to Leeds on December 28.
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