Pep Guardiola has revealed that Kevin De Bruyne could be "ready" to play his first game in five months when Manchester City face Newcastle United on January 13.
De Bruyne last played for the Citizens on August 11 when he tore his hamstring midway through the first half of a 3-0 win against Burnley at Turf Moor.
The 32-year-old, who underwent successful surgery a week later, likened his injured hamstring to a "wet kitchen towel" and revealed that he endured a "hard two months" of pain management.
However, De Bruyne has since made significant progress in his recovery and made his first appearance back in training during City's trip to Saudi Arabia for the Club World Cup earlier this month.
De Bruyne has been targeting a return to action in January for some time, but Guardiola raised plenty of eyebrows when he named the playmaker on the substitutes' bench for City's 2-0 home win over Sheffield United in the Premier League on Saturday, less than 24 hours after ruling him out of the fixture.
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City's No.17 received a warm welcome from the Etihad Stadium faithful as he trained before kickoff and warmed up on the sidelines during the game, but Guardiola was not tempted to give the Belgian a run-out against the Blades.
Guardiola acknowledged De Bruyne's hunger to return to first-team action prior to kickoff, telling reporters: "I have the feeling is Kevin... He is training with a lot of energy... [He has] the desire to come back, to play what he loves - football".
Speaking to Sky Sports in a post-match interview after the win over Sheffield United, the Catalan boss revealed when the playmaker could make his long-awaited comeback for the Citizens.
"Maybe Newcastle he will be ready," said Guardiola. "Really good – we've been waiting a long time for him. He's turning good the last week or so.
"He came for the trophies today for the picture and to be here and realise when to warm up and how the people support him and look forward to seeing him again."
De Bruyne is therefore expected to miss Man City's next match against Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup third round on January 7, which takes place six days before the Citizens travel to St James' Park in the Premier League.
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On Friday, Guardiola revealed that De Bruyne is "the closest one" of City's injured players to return, with Erling Haaland (foot), Jeremy Doku (muscle) and John Stones (ankle) also nursing problems at present.
Haaland has missed City's last seven games, including the win over Sheffield United, with a "bone stress reaction" in his foot, but Guardiola is hopeful that the striker can return at some stage in January.
Doku has been sidelined since December 3 with a muscle problem and is not expected to make an imminent return, while Stones picked up his ankle issue in the 3-1 win at Everton last Wednesday, with Guardiola stating after the match that is "doesn't look good" for the defender.
Goals from Rodri and Julian Alvarez helped Man City ease to a comfortable win against Sheffield United and they have climbed to third in the Premier League table as a result, sitting level on points with fourth-placed Arsenal, who face Fulham on Sunday, and two points behind leaders Liverpool who take on Newcastle on Monday.
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