Kevin De Bruyne injury: Manchester City forward says he will be fit for Capital On Cup final against Liverpool

The Belgian suffered the knee injury in Wednesday's semi-final

Chief Football Correspondent

Friday 29 January 2016 01:25 GMT

Kevin De Bruyne reacts before being taken off on a stretcher (Getty Images)

Kevin De Bruyne has insisted he can overcome a knee ligament injury in time to face Liverpool in next month’s Capital One Cup final, despite concerns within Manchester City that the midfielder will be sidelined for at least six weeks.

De Bruyne, a £54.5m summer signing from Wolfsburg, suffered injuries to his knee and ankle in the closing stages of Wednesday’s semi-final second-leg triumph against Everton after making a match-winning contribution as a substitute against Roberto Martinez’s team.

The former Chelsea player was carried off a stretcher and left the Etihad Stadium wearing a protective knee brace, but although City manager Manuel Pellegrini dismissed initial fears that the Belgian had sustained cruciate ligament damage, De Bruyne did suffer an injury to the medial ligament.

Nonetheless, the 24-year-old is still targeting the Wembley date with Liverpool on February 28 as a potential comeback game.

“I’m happy to be in the final and hopefully I will be there.” De Bruyne said. "I’m going to be fit, for sure.

Manchester City 3 Everton 1 player ratings

Show all 22

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

2016 Getty Images

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.

2016 Getty Images

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.

2016 Getty Images

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.

2016 Getty Images

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.

2016 Getty Images

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.

2016 Getty Images

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.

2016 Getty Images

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

2016 Getty Images

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.

2016 Getty Images

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.

Getty

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.

2016 Getty Images

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.

2016 Getty Images

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.

Getty Images

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.

2016 Getty Images

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.

2016 Getty Images

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.

Getty Images

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.

"I know my ankle is sprained. It’s my knee mostly, but I sprained my ankle.

"It got stuck, nobody touched me, it just got stuck and I think I fell the wrong way, but we will see.”

With De Bruyne going to ground following a challenge by Everton defender Ramiro Funes Mori, the City player’s reaction by clutching his ankle and waving for treatment prompted visiting goalkeeper Joel Robles to berate the midfielder for attempting to over-play the incident.

But Robles has now apologised to De Bruyne by issuing a tweet expressing his regret.

“I would like to apologise to Kevin De Bruyne for my reaction to his injury,” Robles said. ”In the heat of the moment I didn’t realise he was badly hurt.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies