Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is set to return to training on Saturday after recovering from injury.
The Belgian picked up an issue - said to be either in his back or shoulder - in the late stages of City's 2-1 win over Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup final, and he was unsurprisingly left out of the FA Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday as a result.
It was initially believed that De Bruyne could be a doubt for
“He’s getting better, tomorrow he’s going to train, he’s not perfect but he feels better," Guardiola revealed. “This morning with the physio he said he feels better. Not perfect."
The Guardian also add that De Bruyne will undergo a late fitness test before the Manchester derby to see whether his back/shoulder/whatever injury has healed in time, and City are ready to give him every possible second to prove his fitness. You know, because he's pretty good at this whole football thing.
That makes 4! pic.twitter.com/rqli9afXaG
— Kevin De Bruyne (@DeBruyneKev) March 1, 2020
The Citizens are already without centre-back Aymeric Laporte and winger Leroy Sané, so they could really do without losing any more of their stars for perhaps their biggest game of the entire season.
Guardiola's men are on the lookout for their fourth consecutive league victory at Old Trafford, with this season proving that neither City nor United actually enjoy playing Manchester derbies at home.
At the Etihad Stadium, City fell 2-1 to United in December 2019, while the Red Devils also grabbed a 1-0 win in the Carabao Cup semi-final. That second result only came after City picked up a 3-1 win at Old Trafford in the first leg, so home advantage clearly goes out the window with this one.
City are looking to inch ever closer to league leaders Liverpool, and the astronomic miracle which they need to win the title now only needs to be 99% astronomic after the Reds' loss to Watford. At this rate, City will have the title wrapped up by May...2023. Progress.
As for United, they remain on the hunt for a space in the top four, with Chelsea only three points ahead.
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Source : 90min