Pep Guardiola gives a clue about when Kevin De Bruyne might return from his injury.

Pep Guardiola has indicated that Kevin De Bruyne is unlikely to start when Manchester City plays Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday evening. De Bruyne, who didn’t feature in the weekend loss to Bournemouth, was on the bench but didn’t play. Guardiola noted that De Bruyne could have come on for the final 15 minutes but added that he’s being cautious about rushing him back after such a demanding match.

Guardiola explained that De Bruyne had only just started feeling better on Friday, after more than a month and a half out. He mentioned the importance of carefully managing De Bruyne’s return, especially after his lengthy injury last season, to ensure he performs well consistently.

This caution comes from Guardiola’s experience at the start of the previous season. After De Bruyne injured his hamstring in the 2023 Champions League final, he returned just before the 2023/24 season opener against Burnley. Guardiola opted to start him, but De Bruyne lasted only 23 minutes before another setback, sidelining him for five more months.

After weeks out with a groin issue this season, Guardiola seems wary of bringing De Bruyne back too quickly. While De Bruyne might get some minutes off the bench against Sporting, he may be more likely to start in Saturday’s match against Brighton or, more cautiously, after the international break on November 23 against Tottenham.