In the lead-up to the Premier League clash against Newcastle United, Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, has provided a notable update on Kevin De Bruyne’s potential participation. The upcoming match at St. James’ Park marks Manchester City’s first Premier League encounter of 2024, facing Eddie Howe’s struggling Newcastle side.
Newcastle has a track record of difficulties against Manchester City, having suffered defeats in all eight previous meetings. Despite a recent FA Cup win against Sunderland, Newcastle’s current form positions them in the ninth spot in the standings.
Kevin De Bruyne, who returned to action after a five-month hiatus due to a hamstring issue, played a role in Manchester City’s FA Cup triumph over Huddersfield Town. There are expectations that both De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku will be part of the lineup in the upcoming clash with Newcastle.
After being back with the first squad since December, there is a possibility that De Bruyne might secure a starting position on Saturday, as indicated by Pep Guardiola. The manager expressed confidence in De Bruyne’s preparedness, mentioning, “I can see Kevin De Bruyne is very good. He’s ready to start, and the trip to Abu Dhabi will do him good too.” Guardiola highlighted De Bruyne’s positive performances and improvement observed during training sessions.
A victory for Manchester City against Newcastle could bring them within two points of the league leaders, Liverpool. However, the team will be without Erling Haaland and John Stones for this crucial match. Guardiola’s optimism about De Bruyne’s readiness adds an element of anticipation for fans as Manchester City aims to narrow the gap in the league standings.
