Manchester City will again be without midfield magician Kevin De Bruyne coming up to the festive period.
The Belgian was sidelined for two months with a knee ligament injury picked up in training after the opening Premier League game of the season.
He made two Premier League substitute appearances since his return last month but, brought off 86 minutes into City’s Carabao Cup victory over Fulham on Thursday evening, a further knee ligament injury is st to keep De Bruyne out for another five to six weeks.
That will keep De Bruyne out of the Manchester derby as well as more Premier League games against Southampton, West Ham, Bournemouth and Watford.
De Bruyne may return in time to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on December 8.
City is joint-top after 10 matches with 26 points, tied with Liverpool.
Next up for the Citizens is a clash with Southampton on Sunday.
