Kevin De Bruyne could hand Manchester City a major boost as they prepare for their upcoming clash with Wolves at Molineux following the international break. The Belgian playmaker, who has been sidelined for five consecutive matches across all competitions, might be ready to return to action, adding much-needed depth to Pep Guardiola’s squad.
De Bruyne has opted out of international duty with Belgium for the next few months, prioritizing his fitness amid a packed schedule for City, which includes preparations for the Club World Cup next summer. His potential return would be timely as the Premier League champions look to continue their strong start to the season against a struggling Wolves side.
Nathan Ake is another player who could make a return from injury. The versatile defender has been absent since sustaining a hamstring injury while on duty with the Netherlands in September. Guardiola was optimistic about his recovery, saying before the international break, “Yeah, I expect him back after the international break.”.
Ake’s return would provide a defensive boost, but City will still be without Rodri and youngster Oscar Bobb, both of whom are dealing with long-term injuries that require extended recovery periods.
On the Wolves side, manager Gary O’Neil is facing his own selection headaches. Several key players, including Sasa Kalajdzic, Yerson Mosquera, Boubacar Traore, and Enso Gonzalez, are expected to miss out, leaving O’Neil short of options. Additionally, there are concerns over forward Hwang Hee-chan, who picked up a potential injury while representing South Korea against Jordan.
For the upcoming fixture, predicted lineups reflect the available squad members. Wolves could field a lineup featuring Johnstone in goal, with a backline of Semedo, Dawson, Gomes, and Ait-Nouri. Andre could anchor the midfield, while Guedes, Lemina, Gomes, Cunha, and Strand Larsen provide attacking options.
For Manchester City, the projected starting XI includes Ederson in goal, with a defense comprising Walker, Akanji, Dias, and Gvardiol. Lewis and Kovacic are likely to play in midfield, supporting Silva, Foden, Doku, and goal-machine Erling Haaland up front.
The return of De Bruyne, if confirmed, could tilt the scales further in City’s favor as they look to maintain their dominance in the league.
