Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has once more lamented the additional strain placed on players by the volume of football this season after revealing Kevin De Bruyne will be sidelined for up to six weeks.

De Bruyne limped off in the 2-0 midweek win over Aston Villa that briefly sent City to the top of the Premier League, and subsequent scans have revealed the Belgian playmaker is set for a long spell on the sidelines.

The muscular injury means De Bruyne will miss City’s FA Cup fourth-round clash at Cheltenham on Saturday while he is also likely to be absent for showdowns against title rivals Liverpool and Tottenham next month, as well as the trip to take on Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League last-16 first-leg tie on February 24.

Kyle Walker will also miss the trip to Cheltenham after he was forced off against Villa, but Guardiola is more optimistic about his availability following the game against the League Two side.

“Kyle had a big impact kick in his hips, but it was just a kick,” Guardiola said. “He’s not available, but maybe for the next game.”

Nathan Ake is still not ready to return while fellow defenders Aymeric Laporte and Eric Garcia are back in training but striker Sergio Aguero revealed on Thursday he is self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus.

It is yet another setback for City’s record goalscorer in a season where he has started just three matches.

“What we wish is for him to feel better,” Guardiola added. “He felt uncomfortable for two or three days after his positive test, he felt quite tired and had symptoms. But he feels well and we want him to come back.

“For a long time we’ve missed our best striker. Like with Kevin we will have to manage until they come back.”