Manchester City have been hit with a major blow after Kevin de Bruyne suffered a knee injury in training on Wednesday.
The Belgian ace, who starred in last season’s Premier League title win, is believed to have injured the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in his right knee.
There are fears that the midfielder could be set to spend up to three months on the sidelines.
De Bruyne took part in a gym session with his City teammates this morning at the club’s City Football Academy.
However, he suffered the injury during an outdoor session after lunch
A City statement said: “Kevin De Bruyne is undergoing tests on his right knee after sustaining an injury at training on Wednesday.
The Blues midfielder suffered an injury during training. #mancity https://t.co/kNnAjzw8cs
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 15, 2018
“The extent of the problem is not yet known and we will bring you further updates on Kevin’s condition in due course.”
As yet, City aren’t giving a specific diagnosis. The 27-year-old is currently on crutches and there are suggestions that after meeting with doctors in Manchester on Wednesday evening he will fly to Catalunya to meet with specialists on Thursday.
Early indications suggest it may be similar to the injury he picked up in early 2016, which saw him miss 12 matches for the club and kept him out of action for 63 days.
If the injury is indeed as serious, then that will keep the playmaker out of action until mid-October.
De Bruyne was crucial to the club’s title win last term, making 52 appearances in all competitions.
Arsenal Goalkeeper to Join Napoli
Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina to have Napoli medical ahead of loan move
David Ospina is expected to arrive in Rome on Wednesday evening ahead of his loan move to Napoli, according to Sky in Italy.
The Arsenal goalkeeper will undergo a medical on Thursday as the Serie A side seek cover for new signing Alex Meret, who broke his arm in training last month.
Napoli will have the option to sign the 29-year-old on a permanent deal should his loan spell prove to be a successful one.
Ospina made 21 appearances for Arsenal last season but just five of those were in the Premier League and he has fallen down the pecking order after the signing of Bernd Leno from Bayer Leverkusen.
Petr Cech made big errors in Arsenal’s 0-2 loss at home to Man City on Sunday and was voted as the Premier League’s worst goalkeeper of match day one. Arsenal legend Tony Adams has called on manager Unai Emery to drop the veteran goalkeeper.
“We want competence with the goalkeeper and the other players in the squad,” Emery said. “The pre-season offered the same chances for all the goalkeepers.
“Petr Cech had a very good pre-season. Today I think he played well also and he has this experience to defend our goal.
Whilst he made several excellent saves, most notably a one-on-one with Sergio Aguero but also swift reaction blocks denying Raheem Sterling and Aymeric Laporte, the veteran goalkeeper might feel he could have done better with City’s opener.
It nearly went from bad to worse for Cech soon after, when he nearly passed the ball into his own net as he looked to square the ball to where he might have expected his right-back to be.