'Basically a taxi driver' - Kevin De Bruyne reveals the new profession he took up during surgery recovery as Man City star steps up comeback

De Bruyne spent almost five months on the sidelines after tearing his hamstring on the opening day of the Premier League season but made a triumphant return by getting an assist in City's emphatic 5-0 win over Huddersfield in the FA Cup. After the game, he revealed what he spent the majority of his time off doing.

"To be honest when you have three kids between three and seven, not a lot, I'm basically a taxi driver. I enjoyed it," De Bruyne told reporters. "I think they enjoyed that daddy could watch the games and now it will be harder for the missus and everyone to work around the programme."

De Bruyne admitted that the time away may have been good for him on a mental level after spending so long competing at the highest level twice a week. He added: "It's not like I needed a break but I took it, to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. When I reflect on my career, playing the last 10 years nonstop with a short break, maybe it was good for me to reset a little bit in a way and take care of myself when it is not really possible during the year. I hoped I could work hard and come back in a good way and I feel that I'm doing that but obviously I need to progress."

But he said he did not enjoy being away from his team-mates. "It's everything. When you're training in an injury you're always alone," De Bruyne added. "You can train with other physios or people in the gym but you're not really with the team so a lot of times you're working outside these hours so it's nice to be with the team competing again. You compete against yourself when you're training."

De Bruyne is unlikely to start City's next match away to Newcastle as Pep Guardiola is careful to avoid him suffering a relapse of the injury, although he could feature again from the bench. He and City will then head off on a warm-weather training camp to Abu Dhabi where he can get match sharp again ahead of their game at home to Burnley on January 31.