Boost for City as Kevin targets derby day return
KEVIN de Bruyne will soon resume training with the City squad as he continues his recovery from injury.
The Belgian had only played 30 minutes of football this season when he suffered medial knee ligament damage in training in mid-August.
City are hopeful the player will be back after the international break, with the 27-year-old indicating he should be fit for the first derby of the season on November 11.
Guardiola confirmed the rehabilitation is going well.
“He’s making the last steps. He starts training in part of the sessions with us in the next days,” he said.
“Mendy is in the same process. I expect him back when he’s fit. Now he’s injured, he’s not a problem with physical condition, he’s quick. He’s injured and when he’s OK he’s coming back and when he decides to play he’s going to play.”
The manager also confirmed that there are no other injury worries in the squad, with Danilo successfully coming through his first game back after injury at Oxford in midweek.
De Bruyne, Mendy and Claudio Bravo are the only players unavailable for selection for the visit of Brighton, and Guardiola suggested that his players need to earn their places by impressing him today.
“If they want to play against Hoffenheim and Liverpool, they have to play. Now it is Brighton.”