Kevin De Bruyne earned his place back in the Manchester City team after impressing Pep Guardiola in training. It has been a tough summer for a footballer who picked up his second consecutive PFA Player of the Year award back in June, with the trauma of a fractured eye socket in the Champions League final and then torn ankle ligaments in Euro 2020 affecting his return to Manchester for the new campaign.
Having taken until November to get back up to speed, De Bruyne then tested positive for Covid-19 in the international break to reset his progress and leave him short of rhythm again.
City have been able to win without the Belgian playmaker, with Rodri and Bernardo Silva stepping up in midfield to guide Guardiola's side to the top of the
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