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Kevin De Bruyne injury: Manchester City manager hopes £55m man will play again this season after knee injury

The Belgian picked up the injury in City's League Cup triumph over Everton

Chief Football Correspondent

Thursday 28 January 2016 00:06 GMT

Kevin De Bruyne leaves the field on a stretcher (Getty Images)

Manuel Pellegrini expects Kevin De Bruyne to play again this season for Manchester City after playing down fears of a serious knee injury for the midfielder.

The Belgium international, a £54.5m summer signing from Wolfsburg, was carried off on a stretcher in the final minutes of City’s Capital One Cup semi-final triumph against Everton at the Etihad Stadium after making a decisive contribution following his second-half introduction as a substitute.

With De Bruyne leaving the pitch while wearing a knee brace, concerns were immediately raised of a potential season-ending injury for the player.

But Pellegrini claimed that initial fears of cruciate ligament damage are without foundation.

"The doctor thinks, but can't be sure yet, that Kevin has a problem with his medial ligament,” Pellegrini said. “We will see tomorrow.

“The doctor thinks he has a problem in his medial ligament but it is impossible before tomorrow.

“I hope (he is not out for the season). It is very difficult to know in this moment, but I am optimistic he will not be out for the rest of the season.

“It is not a cruciate ligament, it is the medial ligament.”

Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

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1/22Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Willy Cabellero - 6 out of 10

Maybe he could have done better with Barkley’s goal, but the goalie was left with little chance after a sublimely struck effort

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Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Pablo Zabaleta - 6 out of 10

Always manages to put his side on the front foot from a defensive position. Played a lot better in a functioning second half display. His width with Clichy really spread out the defence allowing his midfielders space to operate.

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Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Nicolás Otamendi - 6 out of 10

After Barkley’s goal he defended well to prevent an Everton attack who were strong on the front foot. In the second half he and Demichelis were able to nip any attacks in the bud with relative ease.

Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Martín Demichelis - 6 out of 10

Other than the goal there was little the he or his defensive partner really had to do apart from prevent a first half barrage from the Everton attack, keeping the Toffees to only one goal was a huge plus.

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Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Gael Clichy - 7 out of 10

Operating as more of a wing back Clichy’s pace enables City to play with far more width. His runs opened up the space for a lot of the strong work from Navas, Silva and De Bruyne.

Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Yaya Toure - 6 out of 10

As usual he displayed an assured leadership in City’s midfield. However, he lacked the breath taking surges to the heart of defences that are so usually associated with him. He was subbed of for Kevin de Bruyne which said a lot about his position in the City team these days.

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Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Fernandinho - 7 out of 10

A goal gives him an extra point and he linked up well with the rest of his midfield. He did struggle to stop a number of attacks in the first half from Everton.

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Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Fabian Delph - 5 out of 10

Missing in action for the Barkley goal and he gave the ball away a number of times. He was replaced by Navas in the second half who sparked City into life with a much brighter performance.

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Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

David Silva - 7 out of 10

Looked consistently dangerous as an attacking threat . He and Aguero did much to tantalise and frustrate Everton’s defence and he was instrumental in the win.

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Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Raheem Sterling - 6 out of 10

He was missing for much of the match but supplied Kevin de Bruyne for City’s second goal in what was questionable circumstances. Nonetheless the goal stood and Sterling deserves the credit for a fantastic ball

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Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Sergio Aguero - 8 out of 10

Buzzed around magnificently and was a constant threat. Had a hand in the Fernandinho goal and looked dangerous all night. He fully deserved the goal that put City ahead in the tie.

Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Joel Robles - 6 out of 10

He wasn’t at fault for any of the goals. Frustratingly they were all well hit strikes that eluded his grasp.

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Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

John Stones - 5 out of 10

Subbed off for Coleman before the end, his performance didn’t indicate that of a player who Real Madrid are supposedly interested in. He is unlikely to face many strikers on better form than the irrepressible Aguero.

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Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Phil Jagielka - 5 out of 10

Outpaced by Aguero a on a number of occasions. Whilst it seems unfair to single him out, he wasn’t able to deal with the attacking threat that City offered in the second half.

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Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Ramiro Funes Mori - 6 out of 10

He played on the edge. A strong tackle in midfield set up the Barkley goal, he was consistently strong in defence during the first half. In the second the Everton defence slipped too many times, if not due to the skill of City than poor defending by Funes Mori.

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Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Leighton Baines - 6 out of 10

Very unlucky that his deflection found its way into the Everton net, Baines often epitomises the hard work of the Everton side. Unfortunately he wasn’t able to prevent the cross from De Bruyne leading to Aguero’s goal.

Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Tom Cleverly - 6 out of 10

He worked hard throughout the game and looked at the heart of a potential Everton victory. But in the end he was overwhelmed by a talented City attack.

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Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Gareth Barry - 6 out of 10

A pretty average touch in the build-up to Fernandinho’s goal was a blemish on an otherwise strong performance against his former club. He kept the Everton defence together until its eventual crumble.

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Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Gerard Deulofeu - 6 out of 10

He was effective in putting Everton on the front foot in the first half but missed guilt edge chance in the second. Was substituted relatively early in the first half for Arouna Koné.

Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Leon Osman - 6 out of 10

Didn’t assert himself into the game as much as his contemporaries. Nonetheless he tracked back well and offered himself for a number of chances in the game.

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Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Ross Barkley - 7 out of 10

A masterful first half display in which he was at his pulsating best. His goal was a piece of genuine power and skill, at times he looked the best player on the pitch.

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Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Romelu Lukaku - 6 out of 10

Linked excellently with Barkley and was a powerful menace. He pressured defenders in the air and was a fantastic link man, no wonder he is in such high demand. Despite that, more goals were needed to carry Everton through.

City will face Liverpool at Wembley in the final on February 28, but Pellegrini has warned against focusing on that game with his team still alive in four competitons.

“First of all, to play a final in Wembley is always a special stadium with a special atmosphere,” Pellegrini said. “If you have two very good teams such as Liverpool and Manchester City, it will be a brilliant final.

“But we have one month (to wait), so it is important to focus on the FA Cup and then two important games in the Premier League.”

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