Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided an update on the fitness of Kevin De Bruyne ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Newcastle United at St James' Park.
De Bruyne was taken off at half time in City's goalless stalemate with Inter Milan in the Champions League with an apparent groin injury and has since missed the club's last two games against Arsenal and Watford.
Prior to the 2-2 draw with Arsenal last weekend, Guardiola issued a reassuring update on De Bruyne's condition, stating that "he feels a little better".
Guardiola then revealed after the 2-1 EFL Cup third-round win over Watford on Wednesday that the 33-year-old's injury is "not serious".
However, De Bruyne has not taken part in first-team training this week and the playmaker is not ready to return to the matchday squad for Saturday's trip to Newcastle.
Asked at a press conference on Friday if De Bruyne would be fit to return this weekend, Guardiola said: "No. I don't know (when he will return). Maybe before the international break or after the international break. We will see".
How many Man City games will De Bruyne miss?
Including Man City's trip to Newcastle this weekend, Guardiola and co have three more fixtures to prepare for before the next international break begins in mid-October.
The Citizens will follow up the clash against Newcastle with a Champions League away game against Slovan Bratislava next Tuesday, before returning to the Etihad Stadium to face Fulham in the Premier League.
City will hope to have De Bruyne back in the first-team fold after the international break, and while the Belgian still requires time in the treatment room, he could miss a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on October 20.
Man City will then conclude October with for three more fixtures across three different competitions over a seven-day period, coming up against Sparta Prague (Champions League), Southampton (Premier League) and Tottenham Hotspur (EFL Cup fourth round).
Meanwhile, Guardiola has confirmed that Rodri will miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury and has refused to rule out signing a replacement in January.
Man City are also having to cope without Oscar Bobb (leg fracture) and Nathan Ake (muscle), although the latter could be ready to return after the international break. body check tags ::
