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Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne expected to miss four months with major hamstring injury

Kevin De Bruyne could be out of action for up to four months after suffering a hamstring injury in the opening Premier League game of the season, manager Pep Guardiola said on the eve of their UEFA Super Cup clash against Sevilla.

The Belgium international left the field in the 36th minute of City's 3-0 win at Burnley on Friday.

De Bruyne, who was left out of City's squad for their Super Cup game, also limped off during the Champions League final in June and Guardiola confirmed the midfielder had suffered a recurrence of the same injury.

"It's serious. We have to decide surgery or no surgery but he will be out for a few months," Guardiola told reporters on Tuesday.

"(A decision on surgery will be taken) in the next few days. It will be three or four months."

Asked if De Bruyne's injury occurred because he was rushed back into action before he was ready, Guardiola said: "We could say 'don't play' but this injury could happen later.

"Before I took the decision I spoke to the doctor, the physio and him. He said he felt good.

"We will see (about signing a replacement for De Bruyne). After what happened we will see the possibilities."

(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond and Pritha Sarkar)

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