Kevin De Bruyne remains major doubt for Manchester City’s trip to Newcastle, confirms Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has been unable to say whether Kevin De Bruyne will be back available for Manchester City’s next Premier League game against Newcastle United on Saturday.

The Belgium international was withdrawn from action during last week’s UEFA Champions League opener against Inter Milan, having sustained what appeared to be a groin problem moments before the half-time interval.

Replaced by Phil Foden in the match, De Bruyne has since missed two matches for Manchester City against Arsenal in the Premier League, and Watford in the third round of the Carabao Cup, with medical staff not wanting to take any unnecessary risks with the 33-year-old.

With Manchester City returning to Premier League action this weekend, and having succumbed to further injury problems through Rodri’s blow against Mikel Arteta’s side, the return of De Bruyne is a question on the lips of many.

Speaking after the 2-1 win over Watford in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, manager Pep Guardiola was asked whether De Bruyne could be available to return for Manchester City’s next encounter on Saturday afternoon.

“I don’t know. Yesterday (Monday) he didn’t train, today (Tuesday) I didn’t see him. So I don’t know,” Guardiola said.

Manchester City travel to face Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon, hoping to extend their unbeaten start to the new Premier League season into a sixth matchday having recorded four wins and a draw up until this point.

Additional injury concerns face Pep Guardiola, with City confirmed to be without Nathan Ake, Rodri, and Oscar Bobb for the trip to St James’ Park. The former could be the most likely to return before November, with the international break pencilled in as a return date.

As for Oscar Bobb, the Norwegian forward could begin work back on the grass in early December, having sustained a fractured bone in his leg during Manchester City training prior to their first Premier League game of the season.