Kevin De Bruyne's agent fears the Manchester City forward could miss the European Championships after scans revealed the Belgium international tore ligaments in his knee and ankle in the English League Cup semi-final victory over Everton on Wednesday.
De Bruyne, who came on as a late substitute for Yaya Touré in City’s 3-1 win, appeared to catch his studs in the turf and twist his knee as he challenged Ramiro Funes Mori in injury time and was carried off on a stretcher.
Despite initial confidence that his client would not face a prolonged spell on the sidelines, the 24-year-old’s representative Patrick De Koster admitted that De Bruyne would be out for a minimum of six weeks, adding that it is too early to judge whether he will play again this season.
“Kevin will be out for at least six weeks but it is too early to know more at this stage,” De Koster said.
Important games
“He’s confident. Of course he is a bit sad that he will miss so many important games like the Capital One Cup Final and Champions League but Kevin would not be Kevin if wasn’t already thinking about playing again for City.”
Asked whether the injuries – understood to be tears to the lateral ligament in his right knee and another to one of his ankle ligaments – could mean De Bruyne misses out on playing for Belgium at Euro 2016, De Koster added: “You never know. All Kevin can do now is concentrate on getting better and we will see.”
De Bruyne would be expected to be a key figure in a Belgian team that face the Republic of Ireland in Bordeaux in Euro 2016 Group E on June 18th.
In what had been an eventful game for the player signed from Wolfsburg in August for a club record £54 million (€70 million) – he scored in the 70th minute after the officials missed the ball going into touch in the build-up and then delivered the cross for Sergio Agüero to make it 3-1 on the night – City progressed 4-3 on aggregate and will meet Liverpool in the final at Wembley on February 28th.
Bitter blow
The prognosis will be a bitter blow for manager
Manuel Pellegrini
with City still battling for trophies on four fronts.
As well as missing the League Cup final, De Bruyne, who has had 12 assists this season and created more chances than any other City player, will miss the Champions league last-16 tie against Dynamo Kyiv and crucial league matches against the league leaders Leicester and fourth-placed Tottenham. If he is fit enough to return after six weeks, that could see him make his comeback in the Manchester derby on March 20th.
It is understood that De Bruyne will remain in Manchester for his recuperation as his girlfriend is expecting their first child shortly and De Koster is hopeful the player can make a return before the end of the season.
“He will have more tests over the next couple of days and then we should know more,” he said. “I’ve known Kevin since he was 15 and he has never had such a bad injury before.
Guardian Service
