Man City’s Guardiola still cautious over De Bruyne return،
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has asked Kevin De Bruyne to ease back following his return from injury and warned the midfielder that pushing himself would risk another long spell on the sidelines.
De Bruyne began training after a three-month absence during the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia and returned to the squad for the 2-0 win over Sheffield United on Saturday.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (US)
Fully fit again after undergoing hamstring surgery, he is expected to be involved against Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup on Sunday, but Guardiola has told the 32-year-old to take it easy.
“A big injury, the most important thing is to try to avoid a repeat,” Guardiola said in a press conference on Friday.
“If the intention is 'I want to play today,' you have to be careful. What Kevin needs, any player with long-term injuries, is to accumulate weeks of training and minutes. A setback would be the worst. He's so fresh and has incredible desire. , but you have to be careful.”
As well as De Bruyne, Guardiola hopes to have Erling Haaland and Jérémy Doku back in the squad to face Huddersfield, but a group of other players are likely to be absent due to illness.
Rodri could also miss the match after flying to Madrid following the death of his grandmother.
“Jérémy feels really good, Kevin too,” added Guardiola. “Kevin was [out for a] a long time so we will have to be patient and give the right minutes for him and Jérémy too.
“For Erling, it's a little better, the bone and you have to be a little more careful. He did two training sessions and the next day he felt good.
“They are improving. I don't know about Sunday, I don't know about Newcastle, but for the rest [of the games] they will be ready.
“Rodri, unfortunately his grandmother died yesterday in Madrid. Today and tomorrow [Saturday] he won't be there.
“The family issues are the most important thing. I hope he can come back for the game, but if he needs to stay, [he can]”.
“Four players have problems. Bernardo [Silva]Scotty [Scott Carson]Kalvin [Phillips] and Matheus Nunes are [ill]. Like a lot of people are hurting right now.”
