After a 5-month absence due to a hamstring injury, Kevin De Bruyne finally made his return in the FA Cup match against Huddersfield. Following the match, manager Pep Guardiola provided an update on De Bruyne’s condition and expressed that he believes the player is not yet fully prepared to play a complete 90-minute match.

The Belgian midfielder made a memorable return when he was substituted into the match in the 57th minute. Within just 17 minutes, he made his impact and provided an assist to another returning star, Jeremy Doku. This crucial play sealed a resounding 5-0 victory for his team and secured their qualification to the next round.

Pep Guardiola reveals his plans going forward with the returning Kevin De Bruyne

In the post-match interview, Pep Guardiola acknowledged that De Bruyne is not yet ready to play a full 90 minutes. He further shared that the plan is to gradually increase his playing time, which could affect his point-scoring potential in the Fantasy Premier League. In his words, “Kevin is still not 90 minutes. Plan is to accumulate minutes.”

He also called Kevin De Bruyne a match-winner by adding, “Kevin helps to win games and there are a few in the world.” Guardiola further expressed his belief saying, “Kevin, Haaland, Phil, Julian win games. I’m sure Kevin felt how people are in love with him. This mutual respect will be forever.”

The return of De Bruyne undoubtedly brings a great deal of promise and potential for success for City going forward. Additionally, there is other promising news regarding the potential return of star striker Erling Haaland, who may also be available for the upcoming match.

The injury update on Erling Haaland

Fans have unfortunately not been able to witness the De Bruyne and Erling Haaland partnership on the field since August of last year. However, there is some good news as Kevin De Bruyne has returned to action and the Norwegian, who has been sidelined for a month due to an ankle injury, is also close to making a comeback.

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Pep Guardiola recently provided an update on Haaland’s injury and confirmed that he is back in training. The Spanish manager mentioned, “Erling is a little bit better, it’s bone, so we have to be careful. He’s done 2-3 sessions and feels good after.” While Guardiola isn’t certain if the 23-year-old will feature in the upcoming match against Newcastle United, he expressed confidence that the striker will be fit for the remaining fixtures.

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What are your thoughts on his return? Let us know in the comments.