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Kevin de Bruyne suffered a serious knee injury in training this week and looks set to be out for a period of several months. Though the extent of the injury is not yet fully known, it looks like Manchester City will have to manage a large part of the season without their star man.
De Bruyne had a similar injury in 2016 and was sidelined for about 12 matches. Needless to say, Man city suffered badly from his absence. They need to have a plan B prepared quickly because the Belgian was their chief creative force last season. He finished the season with a total of 18 assists in the Premier League alone and scored another eight goals.
De Bruyne was crucial to City's attack at all times, opening up opposition defense and making the Citizens' attack tick. He was exceptional and generally looked a class apart from the rest of the league.
It would be surely tough, if not impossible, to fill in for his absence and City will need to manage an alternate system of play until his return.
Listed below, we look at five players in the Man City squad who need to step up in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne.
Ikay Gundogan
The German midfielder played much fewer minutes last season than De Bruyne but was highly impressive whenever he was on the field. Playing a bit deeper than De Bruyne, Gundogan had a knack of arriving late in the box to find crucial goals.
He scored four times in the Premier League and grabbed another two in the Champions League.
His influence in the City attack was nowhere near as dramatic as that of his Belgian counterpart though, and he managed only a couple of assists. His job was primarily to be a link in midfield, move the ball around and press high up when not in possession.
In the absence of de Bruyne, he could perhaps be given a bigger attacking role in the side, charged with breaching defenses from the center of midfield.
How much can he accomplish in that role remains to be seen.
David Silva
Perhaps the obvious answer to the problem. Silva will, in the biggest probability, be playing in the position left vacant by the Belgian. He is an attacking midfielder himself and has been one of the best in the business for several years.
His season last year wasn't any less brilliant than De Bruyne, where he got nine goals and 11 assists in the Premier League. The only problem is that Silva played in a position different to that of his counterpart - a much more fluid attacking position where he switched to the wings at times and even played as a false nine.
This was possible because Silva did not have many defensive responsibilities and was a free roamer in the attack. A role similar to that of De Bruyne might hamper his influence and natural play.
Silva nonetheless will be the chief creative force in City's attack for the majority of the season.
Bernardo Silva
The Portuguese winger did not get a lot of game time last season and spent most of it playing second fiddle to players ahead of him.
He has, however, started this season in an advanced midfield position and has already provided goal-scoring returns. He looks really sharp at the moment and has been praised by manager Pep Guardiola for his match fitness.
This perhaps might be the season for Silva to make his mark at City and there is no better time to impress than in the absence of their star man. City fans would want nothing more than to see him carry the responsibility to attack and prove himself to be a reliable asset.
He will not be playing in De Bruyne's usual position but will force a tactical shift to City's usual style if successful - something that Guardiola does effectively and with ease.
Riyad Mahrez
City's new signing and a league title winner on his own. Mahrez knows how to lead a team by example and carry the attacking burden effectively.
Granted, he plays in a very different position to that of De Bruyne, but if he can provide enough goals from the wings, City might just do without a bit of creativity from midfield.
Mahrez has shown to be a player who can break defenses down on his own and is an amazing dribbler. He is also a very creative player who got 13 assists last season to go along with his 12 goals, which is no mean feat.
Replicating his attacking return will take some work and is definitely not easy for a new signing. But City boasts of some of the best talents in the world and will surely help the Algerian get among the goals.
He, in turn, will need to take a bigger responsibility in the team.
Phil Foden
It has been said that sometimes an injury for one is a chance for another. Foden is an exciting young talent at City who just happens to play exactly in De Bruyne's position. He is an Under 17 World Cup winner with England and was also named Player of the Tournament.
Foden featured for his club last season in a string of substitute appearances and even picked up an assist. He has looked impressive in preseason and was already expected to have a bigger part in City's campaign this time.
The injury to De Bruyne might just give him the chance to showcase the world what he is all about. Still only 18, Foden is an attack-minded midfielder who has an eye for goal and looks tactically mature beyond his years. He will slot directly into the spot left open by De Bruyne and will prevent his manager much tactical tinkering.
Can Foden take this opportunity and become a City regular?
