Kevin De Bruyne out for four months with hamstring injury

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Kevin De Bruyne is set to undergo surgery for his hamstring and is expected to be sidelined for up to four months. The 32-year-old creative midfielder had to exit the field during the 23rd minute of City's 3-0 victory against Burnley in the Premier League last Friday. This setback occurred due to a reoccurrence of a hamstring issue that originated from the Champions League final triumph over Inter Milan in June.

De Bruyne's involvement in the pre-season was minimal, as he did not participate in any minutes over the summer. His sole appearance was as a second-half substitute for the final 30 minutes in the Community Shield, where City suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Arsenal earlier this month. Despite these challenges, he was named captain and featured in the starting lineup for their Premier League opener against Burnley. Unfortunately, he was forced to leave the field midway through the first half due to his hamstring problem.

Following the game at Turf Moor, Guardiola delivered an unsettling update on De Bruyne's status, expressing that the midfielder would be sidelined for an extended period. De Bruyne underwent a scan on Monday to gauge the extent of his hamstring injury and has been excluded from Manchester City's 22-player squad for the UEFA Super Cup encounter against Sevilla on Wednesday.

In anticipation of the match in Athens, Guardiola has now officially confirmed that the absence of De Bruyne will be prolonged, as the club is deliberating whether surgical intervention is the most suitable course of action for his injury.

Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, Guardiola remarked,

"It's a serious injury. We have to decide if he needs his surgery. He will be out for a few months out.

"The decision on surgery will be taken in the coming days and could see him miss three or four months.

"The injury for Kevin is a sore blow for us. But at the same time we have to look forward. The skills of Kevin are irreplaceable but it's an opportunity for others and I'm sure they will take it."

Asked if Man City could delve into the transfer market for a replacement, Guardiola added: "We will see. After what happened, we've not talked to (director of football) Txiki [Begiristain] but we will see the chances and the possibilities."