Pep Guardiola now hopes to have Manchester City captain Kevin De Bruyne back from injury after the upcoming October international break.
The influential playmaker has not featured at all since being forced off with a groin issue at half-time of City’s goalless Champions League opener against Inter Milan at the Etihad Stadium on September 18.
De Bruyne has missed all of the club’s last three games across all competitions, sidelined for the dramatic last-gasp draw with Premier League title rivals Arsenal, the 2-1 Carabao Cup third-round win over Championship side Watford and Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle as the defending champions dropped points again in the top-flight.
The 33-year-old will also play no part on Tuesday night as City continue their campaign in the new-look Champions League league phase with a trip to Slovakia to take on Slovan Bratislava, while he will similarly remain out when Fulham visit the Etihad in the league on Saturday.
Guardiola though says he hopes to have De Bruyne in contention following the second international break of the season, when he will be a key absentee for Belgium’s heavyweight Nations League games against Italy and France.
City return from the break with a trip to Wolves on October 20, closing out the month with games against Sparta Prague, Southampton and Tottenham.
“Hopefully after the international break, he will be back,” Guardiola told reporters of De Bruyne on the eve of City’s game in Bratislava.
While De Bruyne remains out, City did get a sizeable boost on Monday with star striker Erling Haaland training as normal ahead of the flight to Slovakia despite suffering a knock to his ankle against Newcastle.
City have already lost key midfielder Rodri for the rest of the season after knee surgery, while Nathan Ake and Oscar Bobb are also still sidelined.
