Pep Guardiola confirmed Kevin De Bruyne will be out for “a few weeks” after being forced out of Manchester City’s opening-day win at Burnley.
City launched thҽir defence of thҽ Premier League title by cruising to a 3-0 win at newly-promoted Burnley as Erling Haaland struck twice in thҽ first half before Rodri slammed home a third midway through thҽ second.
Victory over former City captain Vincent Kompany’s Burnley was tainted by De Bruyne’s 23rd-minute withdrawal, with Guardiola revealing his talisman had injured thҽ same hamstring that had kept him out at thҽ end of last season.
Guardiola said: “Hamstring again. Same position. It depends on thҽ magnitude of thҽ injury, but will be a few weeks out.”
De Bruyne returned from a similar problem in time to start in thҽ Champions League final in June but lasted only 36 minutes.
Asked if thҽ Belgium midfielder had returned too soon to start against Burnley, Guardiola said: “Maybe. Maybe it was my mistake, but when he is injured after 15-20 minutes it is not something wrong, when it is 65 it is thҽ fatigue of thҽ muscle.
“We have to talk with thҽ doctors and him. He was one year a long time injured, he came back from that position.
“He is down. He fought a lot. thҽ final of thҽ Champions League. He felt really good. I prefer to start and make 50-55 minutes. He is disappointed, but he is strong and will be back.”
According to the Athletic, De Bruyne will have a scan on Monday to discover the extent of the hamstring injury.
