Saints hoping to end a run of six games without a win in the Premier League
Sunday 4 November 2018 16:01, UK
Kevin De Bruyne will miss Manchester City's Premier League clash with Southampton after the club confirmed the midfielder has suffered knee ligament damage for a second time this season.
De Bruyne, making just his fourth appearance since his last lay-off, was hurt in the closing stages of Thursday's Carabao Cup fourth-round win over Fulham at the Etihad Stadium and could now be set for six weeks on the sidelines.
The 27-year-old was assessed on Friday and, although he does not require surgery on this occasion, will face a period of recovery.
"For the fact he was out two-and-a-half months and again, we're sad for him," Guardiola said. "Nobody likes to be injured.
"When you come back you cannot expect in one day to be the player we know he is, he needs time to settle, take the rhythm, the pace. Yesterday he came back in many things but it is what it is. Unfortunately he's injured but fortunately it's not surgery. Between four and six weeks, the doctor said, he will come back."
Southampton, who are just two points above the relegation zone, expect to have Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg available as they look to end a run of six games without a win in the Premier League.
Mark Hughes' side are in danger of setting an unwanted club record of six straight games without a goal but the manager has revealed he has been working hard on restoring the confidence of his strikers.
"We have been a little bit harder on them in training with the chances that they have," he said.
"It's to give them an understanding that if they are putting chances away in training, then it gives them the platform to do that in a match situation. If they get a chance, we've got to take it."
City defender Nicolas Otamendi is out with a tendon problem but midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is close to returning after a hamstring injury.
Hughes has reported no fresh injury problems for Saints with Danish midfielder Hojbjerg resuming full training after missing the goalless draw with Newcastle through illness.
What score do you want? Seriously.
I'm going to go 4-0. This could be any score. Southampton haven't scored since I was 11, I don't think. I've watched Manchester City play second gear against a good Tottenham team and win 1-0 away, with a fair few chances too.
I saw them playing second gear against Burnley and beat them 5-0.
PAUL PREDICTS: 4-0 (15/2 with Sky Bet)