Manchester City got off to a great start in the Premier League on Friday – but it came at the cost of losing Kevin De Bruyne to injury.
The Belgian maestro lasted less than half an hour at Turf Moor.
Having looked really bright in the opening stages, De Bruyne trudged off to be replaced by Mateo Kovacic for his competitive debut.
It was a sight City fans saw the last time De Bruyne started for City – in the Champions League final against Inter back in June.
That night, De Bruyne ‘snapped his hamstring’.
And after the Burnley game, Pep suggested that the latest injury was his hamstring again.
Pep Guardiola is fearful over Kevin De Bruyne
Pep didn’t appear massively concerned as he spoke straight after the Burnley game about De Bruyne.
But the Manchester Evening News reported over the weekend that the Spaniard is actually quite concerned about the 32-year-old.
He believes that De Bruyne is going to be out for ‘a significant period of time’.
The player is due to have a scan today, according to the Evening Standard.
Potentially then, official word from the club could arrive later today or tomorrow.
It was reported over the weekend that City could now now step up their pursuit of West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta as a result of the De Bruyne injury.
Man City have shown they can be fine without De Bruyne, but no Gundogan this time
The ‘sublime’ De Bruyne has had long-term injuries before at City, and usually, the club have coped fairly well without the Belgian.
Bernardo Silva has always been especially good when De Bruyne doesn’t play. It is as though he really relishes taking that responsibility.
Ilkay Gundogan was another who tended to come in clutch in the absence of £55 million superstar De Bruyne. But of course, City can no longer call on the German which is a blow.
So new signing Kovacic is potentially going to have to step up. Phil Foden could also be moved inside.
And it will be very interesting to see if City ramp up their efforts to sign Paqueta now.
For the time being though, City fans will have everything crossed that De Bruyne’s latest injury isn’t as bad as feared.
