Silva and De Bruyne look lethal

MANCHESTER CITY are already joint top of the Premier League and future opponents face having to stop David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne running matches in tandem.

Although Sergio Aguero insists that his latest knock is nothing to worry about, the Argentine striker isn’t likely to be risked in tomorrow’s Capital One Cup quarter- final against Hull City, meaning City fans can enjoy the prospect of Silva — who tasted his first action for nearly two months — dovetailing with De Bruyne, whose opening goal in the victory against Southampton was his seventh in City colours.

‘We play almost the same position but we are very different players and that is a better combination than two similar players,’ said De Bruyne.

‘I am more direct than him, he can keep the ball a little bit more than me so the two together is an advantage.’ Silva (right) got a rousing ovation when he replaced Raheem Ster- ling for the final 15 minutes, having been out since early October with an ankle injury.

‘It was important for David to play these minutes,’ said manager Manuel Pellegrini. ‘It was not a muscle injury so he doesn’t have any risk to start games because he doesn’t feel pain in his ankle. But maybe he’s not 100 per cent in his fitness for running the whole game.’

City made a fast start following defeats against Liverpool and Juventus and took an early 2-0 lead through De Bruyne and the energetic Fabian Delph. Southampton rallied with a header from Shane Long shortly after half-time but City’s wobble was ended by De Bruyne setting up Aleksandar Kolarov for a third after 79 minutes.

SUPER STAT: It was Fabian Delph’s first start for Manchester City, having made six previous appearances as a substitute.

MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Caballero 7; Sagna, 6 Otamendi 6, Demichelis 5, Kolarov 6.5; Toure 5.5, Fernandinho 6.5; De Bruyne 7, Delph 7.5 (Fernando 70min, 6), Sterling 6.5 (Silva 75, 6); Aguero 7 (Bony 64, 6).

Subs not used: Wright, Clichy, Navas, Iheanacho. Scorers: De Bruyne 9, Delph 20, Kolarov 69. Booked: Demichelis, Kolarov.

SOUTHAMPTON (4-3-3): Stekelenburg 6; Yoshida 5.5, Fonte 6 (Caulker 36, 6), Van Dijk 6.5, Bertrand 6; Wanyama 6, Romeu 5.5 (Tadic 46, 7), Ward-Prowse 6 (Juanmi 77); Mane 6.5, Long 6.5, S Davis 6.

Subs not used: K Davis, Ramirez, Martino, Clasie.

Scorer: Long 49. Booked: Ward-Prowse.

Man of the match: Fabian Delph. Referee: Roger East 6.