Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has had surgery on a hamstring injury that could keep him out of action for four months.
The Belgium international limped off 23 minutes into Cityβs 3-0 Premier League win at Burnley on August 11.
KDB has been Man Cityβs main creative outlet for many seasons now and was forming an excellent understanding with Erling Haaland.
However, Pep Guardiola believes De Bruyneβs injury has handed Cole Palmer a chance to step up:
βItβs not necessary to ask how good he is,β Guardiola said of Palmer. βYou donβt need two goals in two finals to define how good he is.
βCole in the previous season arrived in an extraordinary moment, he defined the game in the FA Cup and then had injuries. He couldnβt be there.
βLast season our players in midfield were KDB, who will be four or five months out, [Ilkay Gundogan] who isnβt here, we have to adjust a few things. Weβre not at our best, or our top, itβs normal and we adjust a few things but the spirit is there.β