Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has delivered some bleak news around playmaker Kevin de Bruyne.
De Bruyne has been out of action since suffering a thigh injury in the Champions League draw with Inter Milan on 18 September.
Guardiola initially thought De Bruyne would be back after the October international break but has now extended that until the middle of November after admitting the recovery has been more complicated than City thought.
Asked when the Belgian star would be back, Guardiola said: “I would like to tell you, I especially would like to know, but I don’t know.
“He feels better to train but to go to the level we need for competition he still has pain.
“If he doesn’t come back as quick as possible we will struggle. Hopefully that can happen after the international break.”