Pep Guardiola gives Kevin De Bruyne injury update ahead of Newcastle v Manchester City

Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Kevin De Bruyne will not be available for this weekend’s trip to Newcastle United.

The Manchester City midfielder hasn’t played since he sustained an injury in the Champions League draw against Inter Milan last week and he sat out the games against Arsenal and Watford as a result.

Guardiola revealed on Sunday that he did not consider the injury to be a long-term issue and said De Bruyne could be back in time to face Newcastle. However, asked again on Friday ahead of the clash at St James’ Park, the City boss confirmed he will be without the influential midfielder this weekend.

Asked about when De Bruyne will be back, Guardiola replied: “I don’t know. Maybe before the international break or after. We will see.”

WIthout De Bruyne, City could hand Phil Foden a first start of the Premier League season. The 24-year-old played the full 90 minutes in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup win over Watford, the first time he has done so since last summer’s Euros.

Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and James McAtee are all options in a patched-up midfield that will feature no Rodri or De Bruyne this weekend. Nathan Ake and Oscar Bobb are also injured and won’t be involved at St James’ Park.

As for De Bruyne, his participation in next week’s games against Slovan Bratislava and Fulham is now in doubt. The Belgian had started every Premier League match prior to the Inter game and had begun the new campaign in impressive form.