De Bruyne injury a blip for champions

FOR any other EPL team, a serious injury to a player of the ilk of Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne would be terminal to their title chances.

But City is not any other team.

While news De Bruyne has injured his knee and could miss three months will be a blow to manager Pep Guardiola, he will take instant comfort when he looks at the rest of his squad.

Bernardo Silva has been a pre-season revelation in midfield while Leroy Sane, Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling, David Silva and Phil Foden will assure creativity and goals are not lost.

Bernardo, Ilkay Gundogan and Fernandinho looked good in midfield in the 2-0 win over Arsenal in the opening game of the season, passing the ball around with ease.

The depth and talent in the squad is not lost on defender Kyle Walker.

“Kevin is a great player and it’s just unfortunate that it’s happened to him in training, but there’s more than enough depth in the squad,” Walker said.

“We don’t just rely on one player. It’s a team game and whoever steps in will do well.

“Obviously, it’s a big loss but we’ve got more than enough cover.”

You cannot doubt the 27year-old’s importance to City.

De Bruyne played 87 per cent of City’s minutes in the Premier League last season.

It is a big number consider- ing Pep’s love for rotation in his team.

The 2017 player of the season also made more assists, created more chances and played more opposition half passes than any other Man City player last season.

The champions’ win ratio is 64.8 per cent with him in the team but 60 per cent without. There is also a drop-off in goals a game (2.3 with, 1.9 without) and possession (66 per cent with, 61.4 without).

“He played an incredible season,” German international Gundogan said of De Bruyne’s 2017. “He had so much impact on our game.

“He was maybe the main man for us. He is very important. We all hope that it is not too serious so he can get back as soon as possible.”

The Belgium midfielder, who claimed the silver ball at the World Cup for the second best player at the tournament, will have further tests to find out the full extent of his injury.

He was pictured yesterday with a full-length brace on his right leg and using crutches when he attended the premiere of the Amazon Prime TV documentary Manchester City: All Or Nothing at The Printworks in Manchester city centre.