Kevin De Bruyne and Nathan Ake are on track to make their Manchester City return after the international break, but Pep Guardiola has emphasized the need for patience as both players recover from their respective injuries.
Ake, who has been out since suffering an injury while on international duty with the Netherlands, has made progress in his recovery but still requires time to regain full match fitness. Guardiola mentioned that although Ake has started light training, he’s not ready to immediately rejoin the squad. “Nathan isn’t like Phil Foden or another player who is ready after just two training sessions,” Guardiola explained. “He needs time.”
Meanwhile, De Bruyne, recovering from surgery following a knock picked up against Inter Milan, remains sidelined. His recovery has been gradual, and he’s taken the decision to miss both the October and November international fixtures to focus on his long-term fitness. Guardiola supported De Bruyne’s decision, revealing that the Belgian playmaker is still feeling the effects of his surgery from 12 months ago. “He knows his body… when you have long-term injuries, you must be careful,” Guardiola said. “It’s about getting his body back in balance.”
Despite the optimism surrounding their potential return, Guardiola stressed the importance of not rushing them back into action. “When you’re not fit, recover here. It’s the smartest, wisest decision,” he said, in reference to De Bruyne’s choice to opt out of international duty for Belgium to focus on his recovery.
City will face Fulham without both De Bruyne and Ake, alongside longer-term absentees like Rodri and Oscar Bobb, but Guardiola remains confident that once fit, the duo will be vital to the team’s campaign for the rest of the season.
