Pep Guardiola tells Kevin de Bruyne to go on holiday as he questions whether World Cup fatigue contributed to injury

The Belgian midfielder is likely to not return until December despite not needing surgery

Pep Guardiola has questioned whether post-World Cup fatigue was a factor in causing the knee injury that is set to keep Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne out of action until December.

De Bruyne has faced an intense 12 months, having been outstanding for City as they accrued 100 points to win last season’s Premier League title before helping Belgium to finish third in Russia.

He only returned to training at City on Monday of last week, playing for the final half-an-hour last Sunday as Guardiola’s side began their league season with a 2-0 victory at Arsenal.

However, he then suffered a knee injury in training on Wednesday, and was spotted on crutches that night at the premiere of All Or Nothing, the Amazon Prime documentary that features extensive behind-the-scenes footage of last season’s title victory.

Kevin De Bruyne in action against Arsenal on City’s opening game (Getty Images)

Guardiola expects De Bruyne to be fit again by the beginning of December, but acknowledges that City will have a tough task dealing with his absence, just as they did when a knee injury ruled out left-back Benjamin Mendy for virtually the whole of last season.

The City manager said: “We never know. My opinion is that when you ask a lot of the players, over more than 11 months, then after he comes back, this [injury] can happen.

“I don’t know the reason why. Nobody knows, but I’m pretty sure this can influence it. When you are fresh here, fresh on your legs, it doesn't happen. Sometimes it can.

“It’s part of the game for the players – it’s normal, they don't rest. It’s a tough season, with short recovery times. They [the football authorities] say ‘let’s go’ and we are in the competition. Human beings have a limit and sometimes these things happen.

“My advice to him now is to rest, take the holidays he didn’t get in these two or three weeks, do it now. Then he’ll start training and we'll be waiting for him with big arms.”

De Bruyne’s absence is set to give David Silva more opportunities to impress, with the Spain playmaker free to commit himself to club duties after announcing his international retirement on Monday.

Kevin De Bruyne is expected to miss up to three months with a knee injury (PA)

Silva missed several matches last season to spend time with his son Mateo, who was seriously ill in hospital after being born prematurely. Mateo was allowed to leave hospital in May, five months after being born, and his now recovering well.

Guardiola said: “I’m glad for him. If he has decided to do that, it is because he feels it is the right moment. Congratulations to him.

“He has played more than 100 games, winning two European Championships and one World Cup. He is one of the most fascinating, incredible players in the whole history of Spain.

De Bruyne played in Belgium's third-place playoff (Getty)

“He decided. No one at Man City, and not myself, pushed him. The player has to feel it. He decided to rest a little bit more with his wife and his little boy, and play with us.”

City are waiting to hear from Tottenham about where their Premier League match in London, scheduled for October 28, might be played.

White Hart Lane will not be ready, as it is still being rebuilt, and Wembley is hosting an NFL match that day.

Kevin De Bruyne appears set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines (Getty)

Asked if City might reverse the fixtures, and switch October’s game to the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola said: “I don't know - I can only say, if that happened, then four of our final five matches of the season would be away.

“I think when you are maybe playing for the Premier League, four games away is a little bit different.

“I'm a manager for what happens on the pitch, this off the pitch. In the end if Tottenham want to suggest something they'll speak with our chief executive, and our people and will work out what is best for the Premier League.”