Both Kevin De Bruyne and Benjamin Mendy were absent from training yesterday, according to the Manchester Evening News.
The Frenchman’s knee issues have been well documented, with Oleksandr Zincehenko having taken the left-back role in the 1-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday.
De Bruyne had to be substituted seven minutes before halftime against Spurs with a hamstring injury and wasn’t expected to be fit for the Manchester United game on Wednesday evening.
Fans are, however, concerned about the pair’s likely absence for the derby:
Injury prone 🙁
— Mario Wijaya (@Matius_sudjana) 22 April 2019
Mendy gotta go
— D10S (@freecrooks) 22 April 2019
Hope they get better soon
— Nana Yaw (@NanaYaw49City) 22 April 2019
would prefer to have zinchenko left back anyway
— CitySupport (@CitySupport3) 22 April 2019
Why were we training Sunday?? Should have been given two days off and trained Tuesday.
— condemnedmale (@condemnedmale) 22 April 2019
Leroy sane guaranteed to start then? ???
— Wilfred (@wilfredongko16) 22 April 2019
We got pic.twitter.com/N7atCa6CTU
— Le Roy ® (@leroysane_) 22 April 2019
Sell mendy
— RlstA.j (@ayyyjayyyy123) 22 April 2019
We are really gonna miss debryne this Wednesday against Man U
— Iam_Stanleyfisher (@stanuc4life) 22 April 2019
Neither player has featured prominently for City this campaign because of their fitness problems. De Bruyne has started 22 games in total with Mendy having featured just 15 times in all competitions.
Manager Pep Guardiola will, therefore, be confident of coping without them at Old Trafford. Zinchenko has won every game he has started in the Premier League, while legend David Silva will most likely come into the side as De Bruyne’s replacement.