Kevin De Bruyne injury: Manchester City manager hopes £55m man will play again this season after knee injury
The Belgian picked up the injury in City's League Cup triumph over Everton
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Your support makes all the difference.Manuel Pellegrini expects Kevin De Bruyne to play again this season for Manchester City after playing down fears of a serious knee injury for the midfielder.
The Belgium international, a £54.5m summer signing from Wolfsburg, was carried off on a stretcher in the final minutes of City’s Capital One Cup semi-final triumph against Everton at the Etihad Stadium after making a decisive contribution following his second-half introduction as a substitute.
With De Bruyne leaving the pitch while wearing a knee brace, concerns were immediately raised of a potential season-ending injury for the player.
But Pellegrini claimed that initial fears of cruciate ligament damage are without foundation.
"The doctor thinks, but can't be sure yet, that Kevin has a problem with his medial ligament,” Pellegrini said. “We will see tomorrow.
“The doctor thinks he has a problem in his medial ligament but it is impossible before tomorrow.
“I hope (he is not out for the season). It is very difficult to know in this moment, but I am optimistic he will not be out for the rest of the season.
“It is not a cruciate ligament, it is the medial ligament.”
City will face Liverpool at Wembley in the final on February 28, but Pellegrini has warned against focusing on that game with his team still alive in four competitons.
“First of all, to play a final in Wembley is always a special stadium with a special atmosphere,” Pellegrini said. “If you have two very good teams such as Liverpool and Manchester City, it will be a brilliant final.
“But we have one month (to wait), so it is important to focus on the FA Cup and then two important games in the Premier League.”
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