Manchester City star De Bruyne to miss 10 weeks with injury

It had been feared following initial tests that the Belgian would be ruled out for six weeks but he has now confirmed via Twitter that it will be over two months

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has revealed that he will be out of action for over two months with the ankle and knee injuries sustained in the League Cup semi-final defeat of Everton on Wednesday.

De Bruyne landed awkwardly and had to be stretchered off the pitch in the closing stages of the dramatic game at the Etihad Stadium, in which City came from a goal down to beat the Toffees 3-1 to secure a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Following early scans on Thursday, it had been expected that De Bruyne would only miss six weeks but, after further examinations, the player himself confirmed via Twitter that it will be 10 weeks before he is back in action.

Just got back from the specialist. I'll be out for around 10 weeks.

— Kevin De Bruyne (@DeBruyneKev) January 28, 2016

The Belgian had played a key part in City's League Cup turnaround, having come off the bench in the second half to score City's second and set up their third, but he left the Etihad on crutches and with heavy strapping on his right leg.

He had been in high spirits as he spoke to reporters on his way out of the ground and had initially said that he would be fit in time for the League Cup final against Liverpool on February 28.

Here's De Bruyne on his way out of the stadium. Even managed a smile #mcfcpic.twitter.com/NK3bKAOr37

— Sammy Lee (@Sammy_Goal) January 28, 2016

But he is now unlikely to return until the start of April, meaning that he will not only miss the League Cup final but also City's Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Dynamo Kiev and the Manchester derby in late March, among a host of other key fixtures.