Man City 5 Huddersfield 0: Kevin De Bruyne returns after five months out as FA Cup holders thump Championship strugglers
HE’S back – and needed no time to return to doing what he does best.
Kevin De Bruyne made his long-awaited comeback to the Manchester City team after almost five months out due to hamstring surgery.
He was only on the pitch for 35 minutes but was still able to have a hand in two goals in another rout for the FA Cup holders.
No wonder Jurgen Klopp said the whole country was shaking about the brilliant Belgian coming back into the fold.
You can stop shaking now, Jurgen – and start worrying because the early signs are he can have a huge say on the final few months of the season.
The only question is where will Pep Guardiola play him – because Phil Foden has been relishing the central role he normally occupies.
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The Three Lions ace was superb again here – scoring twice as City awoke from a slow start and ran riot.
It was always going to be a tall order for a team on the edges of the Championship relegation zone to come to the home of the newly-crowned world champions.
But in addition, Huddersfield boss Darren Moore had to pick a team without 12 players – due to injury and international call ups.
Guardiola opted to shake up his team despite having a rare midweek off in the build up.
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Ederson, Kyle Walker and Rodri were among those to be stood down – and they were soon joined on the sidelines by Manuel Akanji.
A thumping challenge from Alex Matos earned himayellow cardbut ended the afternoon of the Swiss defender in the 18th minute.
His replacement Matheus Nunes perked up the home side who had struggled to get going in the opening exchanges.
A shot from Oscar Bobb which deflected wide off team-mate Rico Lewis summed up their early efforts.
But two goals in the space of four minutes just after the half hour put the tie beyond the visitors.
First a shot from Julian Alvarez was blocked but the loose ball fell nicely into the path of Foden who hammered it past Lee Nicholls from a tight angle.
Town were still dusting themselves down when City struck again as Nunes played a neat one-two and burst into the box.
His pull back reached Lewis whose connection was not what he wanted but Alvarez was able to divert it on target and over the line.
“We want 10” chanted the home fans.
For all that has happened since, the day back in 1987 when City hit double figures against the Terriers has not been forgotten.
The loudest cheer of the day was reserved for KDB when he replaced Alvarez 10 minutes after the re-start.
As ever things started to happen with the Belgian on the pitch – although surprisingly he was not involved as City added to their lead.
A long ball forward from Mateo Kovacic was plucked out of the sky by Nunes and he played into the path of Bobb.
The Norwegian youngster’s clever chip over Nicholls kissed the underside of the bar on its way in
Sorba Thomas fluffed the chance to give Town’s noisy away fans a consolation when he wriggled free of Ruben Dias but Ortega saved with his feet.
And De Bruyne was involved as City scored a fourth as he rolled a pass to Sergio Gomez who nudged it on to Kovacic.
The Croatian found Foden on the edge of the box and he swept a low shot into the corner.
The England starlet has relished his role in the middle in recent weeks – maybe because he’s had the old master KDB breathing down his neck.
A goal for their beloved Belgian was what the crowd realy wanted but he whistled a 25 yard effort just over the angle.
Yet an assist was the next best thing and he produced one of them as he swapped passes with Bobb before clipping a cross to the back post.
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His fellow Belgium international and sub Jeremy Doku - himself returning from injury - was there to sweep home on the half volley.
How they have missed their main man - and what a tonic for City to get him back.
