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KDB | Manchester City have named Kevin to their 23-man squad for the FIFA Club World Cup, which takes place later this month in Saudi Arabia.
The Belgian has not played for the Citizens since suffering a hamstring injury that necessitated surgery on the opening day of the Premier League season on August 11 against Burnley.
De Bruyne’s hamstring problems began earlier this year, and he was forced to play through the pain as Pep Guardiola’s team won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League to complete a historic treble.
The playmaker was forced off in the first half of City’s 1-0 Champions League final victory over Inter Milan in May, and after aggravating the problem against Burnley three months later, he has since compared his injured hamstring to a “wet kitchen towel.”
De Bruyne revealed last month that his recovery is “going very well,” and he has since hinted that he could return to action in the New Year.
KDB | Still ‘Doubtful’ for the Cityzens
De Bruyne, on the other hand, appears to have an outside chance of playing sooner, as the playmaker has been named to Man City’s travelling squad to the Middle East for the Club World Cup, according to official FIFA documents.
Guardiola’s side will travel to Saudi Arabia after their Premier League match against Crystal Palace on December 16, where they will face either Club Leon of Mexico or Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan in the semi-finals in Jeddah three days later.
Despite his inclusion, De Bruyne will not be fit to play for the Citizens in either of their two games – the semi-final and either a third-place playoff or the final, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Guardiola intends to gradually reintroduce De Bruyne to the first team, telling reporters last month: “He has to recover and make a step back.” Recover well, prepare well, and I don’t think he’ll be perfect in a week, but he needs time.
“From the start or on the benc,h he has always been a good weapon for us.” Kevin’s quality will not be discovered by me.”
“If he said (he’ll be back) in January, it will be January,” Guardiola added. “I would have loved to have him all season but now he has tough injury and surgery and he said end of December or New Year, so it will be a happy New Year for everyone.”
De Bruyne is City’s longest-serving player in Guardiola’s current squad, with 96 goals and 153 assists in 358 appearances across all competitions.
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