Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has been left out of Domenic Tedesco's Belgium squad.
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- De Bruyne out of Belgium squad
- Tedesco explains reason for omission
- Midfielder struggling with injury
- Getty Images
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Manchester City midfielder was a surprise omission from the Belgium squad for their upcoming friendlies against Ireland and England. The Belgian had only just returned from a long-term injury for the Premier League's defending champions and Tedesco has explained why the 32-year-old has lost his place in the squad.
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WHAT TEDESCO SAID
Speaking to the media after the squad announcement, the Belgium coach said: "I don’t know if there is a connection with his hamstring injury. It’s now a problem at the groin that he has been struggling with in the last matches. Yesterday I spoke to the doctor and Kevin and we decided that the risk is too high.
"It’s our responsibility to consider the player, but also the player’s team. It has to make sense to call up a player. If he cannot play or train, it is our responsibility to protect him. We better give him time to recover well at City and then have him ready for the Euros. We can’t take a risk now, and certainly not with Kevin.”
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The news comes ahead of some crucial fixtures for Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's side face Newcastle in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday and play title-rivals Arsenal next in the Premier League. De Bruyne has already missed a large chunk of the campaign through injury, and Guardiola will be eager to have his midfielder available for the run-in.
- Getty Images
WHAT NEXT FOR DE BRUYNE?
It's not clear yet how serious the Belgian's niggle is at the moment, however, it seems possible that he may sit out the clash against Newcastle United on Saturday. He will then get some time off over the international break before the Premier League resumes.
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