'He doesn't feel right' - Pep Guardiola unsure when Kevin De Bruyne will return for Man City with star midfielder still in 'pain'

City have been without De Bruyne since he suffered a thigh injury in the 0-0 draw against Inter Milan on September 18. Guardiola expected to have the Belgian back by now but, although he has returned to training, the 33-year-old isn't yet ready to play a competitive game and will miss Wednesday's League Cup tie at Tottenham.

Perhaps nobody is feeling De Bruyne's absence more than Erling Haaland, who has netted just once in his past four league games. The Belgium international makes City tick and, while they've been able to move to the top of the table without him, Guardiola admitted his side will "struggle" if his injured players do not return quickly, with Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish and Oscar Bobb also sidelined.

“I would like to tell you, especially I would like to know it, but I don’t know right now," Guardiola said when asked when De Bruyne will be back. "He feels that he can train, but not to go to that level that we need in competition. When you kick the ball or something, he still has pain and he doesn’t feel [right]. Kevin has to feel good to express his huge talent that he has. He’s feeling better, but not the best.”

On City's injury list, Guardiola added: "For sure, if these guys don’t come back as quick as possible, we’ll struggle, because we cannot sustain with just 14, 15 players for the season. We need the players to come back.”

City have the chance to heap more pressure on Ange Postecoglou when they take on Tottenham in the League Cup on Wednesday evening. It's the first of four successive away games for Guardiola and his players, with a trip to Bournemouth to come on Saturday.