Kevin De Bruyne out for six weeks as Pep Guardiola blames schedule

Pep Guardiola must do without Kevin De Bruyne for a key part of the campaign (Martin Rickett/PA)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has once more lamented the additional strain placed on players by the volume of football this season after revealing Kevin De Bruyne will be sidelined for up to six weeks.

De Bruyne limped off in the 2-0 midweek win over Aston Villa that briefly sent City to the top of the Premier League, and subsequent scans have revealed the Belgian playmaker is set for a long spell on the sidelines.