De Bruyne blow for City as star ruled out for up to six weeks
LONDON: Kevin De Bruyne will be sidelined for up to six weeks after the Manchester City star suffered knee ligament damage in Thursday’s League Cup win against Fulham.
De Bruyne limped off in the closing minutes of City’s 2- 0 victory at the Etihad Stadium after falling awkwardly in a clash with Timothy Fosu-Mensah.
The 27-year- old had scans on Friday that revealed the left knee injury is serious enough that he is unlikely to be back in action until mid-December, although he does not require surgery.
“We are sad for him. Nobody likes to be injured. Unfortunately he is injured but fortunately it is not surgery,” City manager Pep Guardiola told reporters on Friday.
“Football is football. It is a damaging game with a lot of contacts and this sometimes happens.”
De Bruyne only recent ly returned from a right knee problem that forced him to miss two months this season, limiting the Belgium international to five appearances.
His absence during a busy period is a major blow for Premier League leaders City, who face crucial Champions League fixtures, the Manchester derby and a trip to
Football is football. It is a damaging game with a lot of contacts and this sometimes happens.
Chelsea before De Bruyne is likely to be fit.
“Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne suffered knee ligament damage in his left knee during Thursday night’s Carabao Cup fourth- round win over Fulham,” a statement on City’s website said.
“The Belgian underwent scans on Friday at the CFA. No surgery is needed but he is expected to be out for between 5- 6 weeks.”
Prior to his injury, De Bruyne had been dominant and he quickly tested the Fulham defence with a run and shot.
Phil Foden brought Fulham goalkeeper Sergio Rico into action with a powerful strike.
But it was his fellow teenager Brahim Diaz who opened the scoring with his first City goal in the 19th minute.
A short corner found its way to Vincent Kompany at the far post and Diaz ran on to his header down to hit a powerful shot which deflected past the goalkeeper off Aleksander Mitrovic.
Danilo nearly added City’s second when the defender weaved into the penalty area before unleashing a searing effort which struck the outside of a post.
As half-time loomed, De Bruyne sent a wicked cross in from the right but Foden’s header went just the wrong side of the far post.
City were straight back on the front foot to start the second half,
ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP Selected results Thursday
Manchester City 2 Fulham 0
Wednesday
Arsenal 2 Blackpool 1 Chelsea 3 Derby 2 Middlesbrough 1 Crystal Palace 0 West Ham 1 Tottenham 3
Postponed
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager
Leicester v Southampton with Gabriel Jesus heading wide before De Bruyne’s curling shot went just the wrong side of the post.
They had to wait until the 65th minute for the second goal to come as Diaz netted again.
Leroy Sane slipped the ball through to Jesus, but when his shot across goal was touched on to the woodwork by Rico, it fell for Diaz, who took a touch before lashing home. Fulham never threatened to stop City keeping a fifth successive clean-sheet in all competitions.
A comfortable evening for the Premier League leaders finished on a low note five minutes from fulltime when De Bruyne went down in pain after falling awkwardly in a clash with Timothy Fosu-Mensah. — AFP