Kevin De Bruyne hands Manchester City major fitness update ahead of Leeds and Real Madrid fixtures

Manchester City vice-captain Kevin De Bruyne has handed teammates and supporters alike a major update on his fitness at a crucial time for the club.

The Belgium international has missed City’s last two matches through injury, not making the travelling squad at Craven Cottage to take on Fulham last weekend, before watching on from the Etihad Stadium stands for the visit of West Ham on Wednesday night.

De Bruyne was replaced in the second-half of Manchester City’s hugely important 4-1 win over Arsenal in the Premier League last week, with what Pep Guardiola later revealed to be ‘niggles’ in his leg.

While the initial belief was that the substitution was mainly as a precaution given the hectic nature of the forthcoming fixture list, the problem has appeared to be more serious, and significant strides towards a full recovery have only now been noticed.

Kevin De Bruyne has handed Pep Guardiola, his Manchester City teammates, as well as supporters a major boost regarding his possible availability for the weekend’s Premier League clash against Leeds United.

The Belgian playmaker returned to full first-team training on the City Football Academy pitches on Thursday, spotted in photographs released by Manchester City on social media in the evening.

City have also since released a video showcasing De Bruyne in good spirits alongside Phil Foden in training – with the England international himself having only recently returned to match action following surgery on his appendix.

Speaking prior to the 3-0 win over West Ham this week, Pep Guardiola said of De Bruyne, “He feels better,” before stating that ‘he hopes’ his vice-captain will return for the weekend’s contest against Sam Allardyce’s side.

Perhaps a more realistic target for a full return to the starting XI is the Champions League semi-final first-leg against Real Madrid in the Spanish capital next Tuesday – a game that Manchester City will almost certainly require the talents of their central midfield mainstay.

City will be hoping to go one better than last season by defeating the side that knocked them out of the same stage of Europe’s premier club competition, with an Istanbul-based showpiece final awaiting the victors across two-legs.

The winners of Manchester City against Real Madrid will play either AC Milan or Inter Milan in Turkey next month.