Sport
Kevin De Bruyne is back in training ahead of Manchester City’s Club World Cup tie
One of the best players in the world is back with his boots on.
Danny Jones -
19th December 2023 
Midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is back to training after a lengthy period on the sidelines ahead of Manchester City’s Club World Cup fixture this week.
De Bruyne returned to first-team training on Monday night as Pep Guardiola‘s squad flew over to Saudi Arabia where they will Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday evening, giving the Blues for the remainder of the season as they head into Christmas.
The Belgian superstar suffered a serious hamstring injury during City’s opening game of the 23/24 Premier League campaign against Burnley back in August and has been out of action ever since. As one of the most prolific playmakers in Europe, let alone England, his absence has obviously been felt.
While it is unclear whether KDB is yet fit enough to make an appearance against the Japanese side, he has now completed his first session back with his teammates.
The 32-year-old’s injury has meant that treble-winners have been without one of their star men all season, which could go some way to explaining their fluctuation in results, at least domestically, over recent weeks and months.
Having set such high standards for themselves over the past decade, it seems odd to not see them running away with the league already and instead having won just one of their last five in the league.
With that in mind, De Bruyne coming back to training is crucial in reestablishing that dominance and, for many fans, they feel giving him a run out against the Urawa Reds in what will widely be considered a very east game for the City would be a needless risk and, in contrast, a good opportunity for youth players.
Speaking to The Guardian ahead of his return and potential first minutes back on the grass this week, De Bruyne said his surgery went well and that he is now just “hoping to be back on the pitch soon”, adding: “I want to be the best player in the world. I still have motivation every day.”
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In case you need any more idea of just how instrumental Kevin De Bruyne is to what makes the Cityzens tick as well as they do, he racked up a total of 41 goal contributions last season, three-quarters of which came by setting them up.
It was only back in April that he broke the record for becoming the fastest player to reach 100 assists in the Premier League and with lethal striker Erling Haaland also out injured at the minute, City are still missing two of their biggest goal threats. Who knows what the table will look like once they’re both back?
Manchester City’s Club World Cup fixture against Urawa kicks off at 6pm and will be broadcast live on TNT Sports.
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Featured Images — Manchester City (via Instagram)
